Memorial

More information

T/5 Herman J. Heckel enlisted in October 1942 and he was stationed at Camp Funston for six months and attended radio operators school there. He was selected to attend Tank Mechanics School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and graduated with the highest honors. He was offered a permanent instructorship but preferred to remain with his company. He was sent overseas in August 1943 first to England, then to France.

He was married to Betty Neilson on 29 October 1942.

T/5 Heckel was killed by a gunshot wound in the head and was initially buried in a common grave in Longvilly, together with two comrades as could be read on the grave marker. At the time their remains were disinterred, only Herman Heckel's remains and those of James V. Mc Donnell were found. The third body was missing or the inscription on the marker was wrong. Pfc Mc Donnell is also buried at Henri-Chapelle.

After being distinterred T/5 Heckel was evacuated to the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Foy, Belgium and given a temporary grave on 21 February 1945.