World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Clarence Albert 'Al' Heatwole
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Kentucky
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1940 AT AGE 19. TRAINED AS A PARATROOPER AND WAS AWARDED THE BASIC PARACHUTIST BADGE. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 82ND AIRBORNE 'ALL AMERICAN' DIVISION. TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, ITALY AND HOLLAND. HIS DIVISION AIR-ASSAULTED IN THE NIJMEGEN-GRAVE REGION OF HOLLAND ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944. TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR BY THE GERMANS, HELD, AND LIBERATED BY THE RUSSIAN ARMY AT THE END OF THE WAR. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR AND SERVED WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT.