World War II Honoree

Charles L. Heil

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland

Honored By

Charles L. Heil

WAS WITH THE 36TH COMBAT ENGINEER REGIMENT. MADE 5 AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS. LANDED OVERSEAS IN NORTH AFRICA. WENT ONTO SICILY, ITALY, FRANCE AND GERMANY. WERE AT TIME WITH THE 5TH ARMY, 6TH CORPS AND 7TH ARMY, ALL THROUGH EUROPE. JOB WAS TO BUILD ROADS, BAILEY AND PONTOON BRIDGES, DEAD MEN FOR BIG SHIPS TO TIE INTO. MADE FOXHOLES FOR AIRPLANES IN ANZIO WITH WINE BARRELS, WHEN THE GERMANS WERE SHELLING OUR PLANES ON THE GROUND. WHILE DOING THIS, AT TIMES WERE SHOT AT BY THE GERMAN PLANES AND HIT BY MORTAR FIRE. LANDED IN ANZIO ON D-DAY WITH THE RANGERS. SERVED AS INFANTRY FOR 47 DAYS THERE, ALONG WITH ALL OUR ENGINEERING DUTIES. LANDED IN SOUTHERN FRANCE AT ST. TROPEZ. FOUGHT THE GERMANS IN FRANCE AND GERMANY. HAD JUST GONE INTO AUSTRIA WHEN THE WAR ENDED IN EUROPE.