World War II Honoree

Claude Edwin Heath

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tazewell, Tennessee

Honored By

Dennis

Relationship

Son

HIS MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDED 4 MONTHS AS A PRIVATE IN INFANTRY BASIC TRAINING, 3 MONTHS AS A PRIVATE AS A RIFLEMAN, AND THE REST AS A FIELD LINEMAN AND SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR. SERVED IN HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, SECOND BATTALION, 351ST INFANTRY REGIMENT. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTION. FROM SEPTEMBER 23, 1944, AS A LINEMAN IN THE WIRE SECTION, IN SPITE OF GRAVE DANGERS FROM ENEMY FIRE AND THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN A HIGHLY EXEMPLARY MANNER. ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1944, IN THE VICINITY OF MOUNT CAPPELLO, ITALY, COMPLETELY DISREGARDING HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY, WENT FORWARD AGAINST BARRAGES OF ENEMY MACHINE GUN FIRE AND RESCUED A SEVERELY WOUNDED COMPANION. HIS SWIFT, COURAGEOUS ACTION UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED THE LIFE OF HIS WOUNDED COMRADE. HIS ACTIONS WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF THE ARMED FORCES. ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE FROM TAZEWELL, TENNESSEE.