World War II Honoree

Frederic H. Hersh

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JUNE 1, 1942 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. AFTER PARATROOPER TRAINING, HE SERVED WITH A-BATTERY, 377TH PARACHUTE FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, HE PARACHUTED INTO THE SAINT-MARTIN-DE-VARREVILLE AREA ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED. HE DIED IN THE VICINITY OF MONTEBOURG AND WAS BURIED IN A NORMANDY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE HOLY CROSS CEMETERY, YEADON, PENNSYLVANIA.