Veterans Summary
 Leonard EDWARDS
Private First Class Edwards, born October 22nd 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, enlisted in the army at
19 years old. As Rifleman and Light machine gunner, he was assigned to the military Unit of the
company B, 101st Airborne with whom he fought at Mourmelon-le-Grand, France, and also
during the battle of the Bulge.

Darwin HARRIS
Born in April 28 1924 in Rockport Indiana Darwin HARRIS enlisted in the military on October 3rd
1943 and served on the USS Texas from June 1943 through January 1946. He took part in the June
6th and August 15th 1944 landings in Normandy and Provence.

John HOMRIGHAUSEN
Born March 31st 1924, in East St. Louis, Illinois, John Homrighausen served with the 54th
Armored Infantry Battalion and the 10th Armored “Tiger” Division during WWII. After training in
Normandy, Squad leader Homrighausen and his comrades advanced to the East of France. They
crossed the Moselle at Malling , in a sweeping drive towards Northern Metz. Severely wounded
in March 1945, John Homrighausen’s galantry was rewarded by the Silver Star Medal

Paul KENT
Paul Kent was born 16 December 1920 in Linton, Indiana. He enrolled in the military in January
1941 . He served during WWII as a Radio operator with the 989th Field Artillery Battalion,
landing in Normandy on 14 July 1944, where his unit captured German 7 th Army soldiers. Paul
Kent also took part in the campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe

Norris MIERTSCHIN
1st Lieutenant Norris Miertschin from Thorndale in Texas was born 15 of August 1922.
Incorporated on 30 October 1943, he was assigned to the 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion, as a
chemical Warfare Unit Commander. He landed on Utah Beach on D-Day +8. With his battalion,
he then advanced up towards Northern France and the Ardennes. He also took part in
operations in Rhineland.

Milton PEHL
Milton Pehl from Stonewall in Texas was born on 20 th October 1923. As a heavy machine
gunner with the 347th Infantry Regiment he departed by ship from New Jersey on 1st January
1945, crossing over to Scotland and the English Channel. Milton Pehl finally landed in Le Havre,
France, from where he was sent for 4 months to combat in the Ardennes and Rhineland
theaters.

William SCOTT
Rifle company medic, William SCOTT landed on Utah beach in June of 1944. With the 9th
Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, SCOTT’s first assignment was the
assault on Cherbourg, followed by the fight for Saint Lô. By the winter of 1944, and after a long
march across Northern France, William Scott and the 9th reached and participated in the Battle
of the Bulge.
On November 11, family members of the following recently deceased WWII veterans will receive the
medal of the Legion of Honor in the name of their loved one.

Late William ALEXANDER
Major William Alexander was a bombardier/pilot, from Marlow, Oklahoma for the 410th
Bombardment Group as well as in the 9th Air Force during the WWII. He was with the Air force
that took part in the pre D-Day campaign, attacking coastal defenses, airfields and V-weapons
sites. On the D-Day, his division defended gun positons, attacked bridges, Germans vehicles
during the Normandy campaign etc.

Late Alex GROTE
Alex Grote was born on June 21, 1920 in Fredericksburg, Texas of French-German parents. He
was raised on the Grote family ranch in Blanco County. Alex then served in the U.S. Army from
1942-1946 in the 90th Infantry Division. His primary duty throughout the war was as liaison
officer between division headquarters and front-line units in Normandy, Northern France, the
Ardennes, the German Rhineland, and Czechoslovakia. He earned the Bronze Star Medal during
the Battle for Metz.

Late Monroe HEINEMANN
Sgt. Monroe Heinemann was born in Fredericksburg, TX. He enlisted in the army on November
23rd 1940. He was assigned to the 36th Division Artillery. Alongside with his comrades, Sgt.
Monroe was part of combat operations in Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.

Late James LANEY
James Laney was born January 16th 1923 in Canadian, Texas. As Light Machine Gunner, he
entered the European Theatre on September 26, 1944 with the 82nd Airborne Division. During
his service, he had thirteen combat jumps. He participated in three major arenas of the war:
the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
Late Clarence NIXON
Clarence Nixon was born in Fredericksburg, Texas on 30 September 1918. He was drafted into
the military on December 2nd 1943 where he was assigned to the 722th Railway Operation
Battalion as a Telephone Operator. With his comrades, Nixon contributed to railways
operations in Northern France, Ardennes, and Rhineland.