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Personal info

Full name
HITT, George E
Date of birth
16 August 1914
Age
30
Place of birth
Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island

Military service

Service number
31386559
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
157th Infantry Regiment,
45th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
5 December 1944
Place of death
Mertzwiller, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
F 10 9

Immediate family

Members
George E. Hitt (father)
Ida C. (Brunell) Hitt (mother)
Mabel B. Hitt (sister)
Stuart B. Hitt (brother)
Ivora J. Hitt (sister)
Muriel B. Hitt (sister)
Mary C. (Riley) Hitt (wife)

More information

Pfc George E. Hitt was employed by the Newport Creamery and later by the East Greenwich Dairy.

He enlisted in Providence, Rhode Island on 27 July 1943. He was sent overseas in January 1944.

Pfc Hitt was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumusly. The citation and cited: For heroïc achievement in action on 5 December 1944. During an attack over difficult terrain an assault company of infantry was subject to intest flak, artillery and tank fire. Numerous casualties were inflicted and the company became temporarily disorganized. Pfc Hitt along with two other members of a wire crew, was engaged in laying a line behind the attacking company. He immediately procured his rifle and moved forward through the heavy fire to give support to the disorganized platoons. Although intense enemy fire forced the rifle men to withdraw. Pfc Hitt remained under heavy fire, being effectively at the enemy force and withstanding repeated efforts to drive him from his position. Pfc Hitt and his comrades held their ground until the platoons had been reorganized and were able to resume the attack. Pfc Hitt was killed during this action, but his courage and devotion to duty were material contributions to the subsequent capture of the company objective and reflect credit upon himself and his organization."

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Hochfelden, France.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Revised Underwood Family Tree / Rhode Island State Censuses / Massachusetts Birth Records / 1940 Census, http://www.45thdivision.org, www.newspapers.com - Newport Mercury and Weekly News - 17 August 1945

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Denise Kellam, www.newspapers.com - Newport Mercury and Weekly News - 17 August 1945