World War II Honoree

Lyle L. 'Jack' Heath

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Twisp, Washington

Honored By

Mary Dunbar Heath & LTC Chuck Borg, USA-Ret.

ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY ON JULY 25, 1943, IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. TRAINED IN U.S. ARMY MEDICAL CORPS TO PROCESS BATTLE CASUALTIES NEAR THE FRONT BATTLE LINES. IN JANUARY THE MEDICAL UNIT SHIPPED TO ENGLAND TO PREPARE FOR THE ALLIED INVASION OF EUROPE. ON JUNE 2, 1944, HIS MEDICAL UNIT BOARDED LANDING CRAFT TO AWAIT GENERAL EISENHOWER'S ORDER TO COMMENCE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS LANDINGS AGAINST THE GERMANS ON THE SHORES OF NORMANDY, FRANCE. ON JUNE 6, 1944 (D-DAY), LANDED AT UTAH BEACH BEHIND THE 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SUPPORT TO U.S. FORCES LANDING AT UTAH AND OMAHA BEACHES. ONCE THE LANDING AREAS WERE CLEARED OF ENEMY FORCES, ADVANCED WITH THE ALLIED THRUST ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE, BELGIUM, AND INTO GERMANY IN MARCH 1945. WHEN GERMANY SURRENDERED IN MAY 1945 HE BECAME PART OF THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION FORCE. AFTER 24 MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS OVERSEAS DUTY, RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN EARLY 1946 AND WAS DISCHARGED AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, ON JANUARY 26TH HOLDING THE RANK OF CORPORAL. AWARDS AND DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE (CROSS OF GALLANTRY), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEADS FOR THE ASSAULT LANDING AT UTAH BEACH AND 3 BATTLE STARS FOR NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS, AMERICAN SERVICE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL.