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Personal info

Full name
BOOTH, Donald H
Date of birth
22 May 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Massachusetts
Hometown
Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine

Military service

Service number
11097568
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade
Function
unknown
Unit
B Company,
629th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 September 1944
Place of death
East of Weiswampach, Luxembourg

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
F 9 72

Immediate family

Members
Richard Booth (brother)
Paul D. Booth (brother)

More information

T/5 Donald H. Booth attended volunteered for the Army of the United States in Portland, Maine on 12 ocotber 1942.

On the morning of 20 September 1944, T/5 Booth was sent up to the 3rd platoon of his company to remove a radio from one of the tank destroyers and take it to the rear, where he could repair it in a place of safety. After checking the radio he decided he could repair it without taking it to the rear. Heavy enemy mortar and some small arms fire was directed at the tank destroyers during the time Booth was working on the radio. Disregarding this intense mortar fire he continued to work diligently on the radio in the tank destroyer until it was operating properly. He realized the importance of maintaining radio communication between this platoon ant the company command post, and placed that job before his personal safety. Friendly tanks were maneuvering in the area surrounding the platoon of tank destroyers. The movement of these tanks caused the enemy to fire their mortars. T/5 Booth completed his work on the radio at approximately 1315. As he was leaving the turret, one of the tanks that was operating in the east fired on the tank destroyer with both the 75 mm and the .30 machine guns. Booth was hit and fell to the ground mortally wounded. The incident was no doubt the result of mistaken identity, even though other friendly tanks were scattered throughout the area. T/5 Booth displayed great courage and maintained complete calmness while repairing the radio under heavy enemy mortar fire. As a result of his courage and attention to duty, the radio was repaired in a minimum amount of time. T/5 Booth was killed while performing this very important service under such trying conditions. For this action he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously.

He was initially buried in a temporary grave at Henri-Chapelle on 30 September 1944. After being disinterred and after the cemetery was given a permanent status, he was given his final resting place on 11 September 1948.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, IDPF

Photo source: Aimee Fogg