World War II Honoree

Ted Paluch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE PROUDLY SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY WITH A FIELD ARTILLERY UNIT AND WAS A SURVIVOR OF MALMADY, WHEN HIS UNIT RAN INTO A GERMAN HEAVY TANK BATTALION ON DECEMBER 17, 1944, THE SECOND DAY OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE WAS ONE OF 84 AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO SURRENDERED AND WERE STRIPPED OF THEIR BELONGINGS, GROUPED TOGETHER IN A FIELD AND SPRAYED WITH MACHINE GUN FIRE BUT HE MANAGED TO SURVIVE. HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE HAND BUT PLAYED DEAD AND HID IN A HEDGEROW ON THE EDGE OF THE FIELD WHERE HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS WERE KILLED. A GERMAN SOLDIER SPOTTED HIM HIDING BUT DID NOT SHOOT. AMONG HIS AWARDS IS A PURPLE HEART.