Herman Pettitt served his country as a platooon sergeant of E Company, 405th Infantry, 102nd Division of the Ninth Army of the USA. He made the supreme sacrifice at the age of 23 years and 4 months - about three weeks before V-E day and the end of the European war.
He was a spiritual man, serving as a choir member at the Mission Chapel Baptist Church. He was one of the original Pettitt Quartet.
He continued to sing in a quartet while he was in the army. He served stateside from 1942 until June 1944, primarily as a trainer. He was sent to France in September 1944, where he participated in the Belgium Bulge campaign and the March to Berlin. His division was responsible for the liberation of hundreds of war prisoners. He died in combat near Gardelegen, Germany.
Herman sent home 13 medals while in the army, including Good Conduct, Expert Rifle, Expert Bayonet, Expert Pistol, Experty Auto Rifle, Expert Carbine, Expert Infantryman, Combat Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Medal for meritorious action against the enemy. He was also posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in his final battle.
More than any medals, however, Herman was a kind, loving, and optimistic person. Gardelegen, Germany, was the site of a Nazi death camp, and Herman's efforts helped to neutralize the Nazis in this region. He was the sort of person that was greatly missed - and also the sort of person who was greatly needed to defend God-given liberties.
His time on Earth may have been short, but his impact was profound.
He was a spiritual man, serving as a choir member at the Mission Chapel Baptist Church. He was one of the original Pettitt Quartet.
He continued to sing in a quartet while he was in the army. He served stateside from 1942 until June 1944, primarily as a trainer. He was sent to France in September 1944, where he participated in the Belgium Bulge campaign and the March to Berlin. His division was responsible for the liberation of hundreds of war prisoners. He died in combat near Gardelegen, Germany.
Herman sent home 13 medals while in the army, including Good Conduct, Expert Rifle, Expert Bayonet, Expert Pistol, Experty Auto Rifle, Expert Carbine, Expert Infantryman, Combat Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Medal for meritorious action against the enemy. He was also posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in his final battle.
More than any medals, however, Herman was a kind, loving, and optimistic person. Gardelegen, Germany, was the site of a Nazi death camp, and Herman's efforts helped to neutralize the Nazis in this region. He was the sort of person that was greatly missed - and also the sort of person who was greatly needed to defend God-given liberties.
His time on Earth may have been short, but his impact was profound.
Herman Pettitt served his country as a platooon sergeant of E Company, 405th Infantry, 102nd Division of the Ninth Army of the USA. He made the supreme sacrifice at the age of 23 years and 4 months - about three weeks before V-E day and the end of the European war.
He was a spiritual man, serving as a choir member at the Mission Chapel Baptist Church. He was one of the original Pettitt Quartet.
He continued to sing in a quartet while he was in the army. He served stateside from 1942 until June 1944, primarily as a trainer. He was sent to France in September 1944, where he participated in the Belgium Bulge campaign and the March to Berlin. His division was responsible for the liberation of hundreds of war prisoners. He died in combat near Gardelegen, Germany.
Herman sent home 13 medals while in the army, including Good Conduct, Expert Rifle, Expert Bayonet, Expert Pistol, Experty Auto Rifle, Expert Carbine, Expert Infantryman, Combat Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Medal for meritorious action against the enemy. He was also posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in his final battle.
More than any medals, however, Herman was a kind, loving, and optimistic person. Gardelegen, Germany, was the site of a Nazi death camp, and Herman's efforts helped to neutralize the Nazis in this region. He was the sort of person that was greatly missed - and also the sort of person who was greatly needed to defend God-given liberties.
His time on Earth may have been short, but his impact was profound.
He was a spiritual man, serving as a choir member at the Mission Chapel Baptist Church. He was one of the original Pettitt Quartet.
He continued to sing in a quartet while he was in the army. He served stateside from 1942 until June 1944, primarily as a trainer. He was sent to France in September 1944, where he participated in the Belgium Bulge campaign and the March to Berlin. His division was responsible for the liberation of hundreds of war prisoners. He died in combat near Gardelegen, Germany.
Herman sent home 13 medals while in the army, including Good Conduct, Expert Rifle, Expert Bayonet, Expert Pistol, Experty Auto Rifle, Expert Carbine, Expert Infantryman, Combat Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Medal for meritorious action against the enemy. He was also posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in his final battle.
More than any medals, however, Herman was a kind, loving, and optimistic person. Gardelegen, Germany, was the site of a Nazi death camp, and Herman's efforts helped to neutralize the Nazis in this region. He was the sort of person that was greatly missed - and also the sort of person who was greatly needed to defend God-given liberties.
His time on Earth may have been short, but his impact was profound.
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