World War II Honoree

Charley Havlat

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dorchester, Nebraska

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. SERVED IN EUROPE WITH THE 2ND PLATOON, C-COMPANY, 803RD TANK DESTROYER BATTALION, U.S. 5TH INFANTRY ‘RED DIAMOND’ DIVISION, ASSIGNED TO GENERAL’S PATTON 3RD ARMY. ON MONDAY, MAY 7, 1945 HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A RECONNAISSANCE PATROL THAT WAS SENT FORWARD TO LOCATE GERMAN POSITIONS NORTHEAST OF THE CZECH TOWN OF WALLERN. AT 08:20 HOURS, A BURST OF SMALL ARMS FIRE FROM ENEMY SOLDIERS IN A WOODED AREA STRUCK THE PATROL AND HE WAS INSTANTLY KILLED. WORD OF A FORMAL CEASE-FIRE THAT TOOK AFFECT AT 08:30 HOURS REACHED THE AMERICAN AND GERMAN UNITS WITH IN A FEW MINUTES AFTER HIS DEATH. HE WAS THE LAST COMBAT CASUALTY IN THE 5TH DIVISION AND THE LAST CONFIRMED COMBAT FATALITY IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. IRONICALLY, HE DIED WHILE HELPING TO LIBERATE HIS PARENT’S HOMELAND AND WAS INTERRED IN A LOCAL CEMETERY AT WALLERN, WHICH IS KNOWN TODAY AS VOLARY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RE-INTERRED IN THE LORRAINE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT ST. AVOLD (MOSELLE), FRANCE. A MONUMENT WITH A PLAQUE HONORING HIM AND HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE HAS BEEN PLACED NEAR THE TOWN OF VOLARY. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.