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Personal info

Full name
HEDGE, Willard Charles
Date of birth
27 October 1911
Age
33
Place of birth
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
Hometown
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska

Military service

Service number
O-308959
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Platoon Commander
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
134th Infantry Regiment,
35th Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 November 1944
Place of death
Near Morhange, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 28 28

Immediate family

Members
Verne U. Hedge (father)
Grace E. (Bennett) Hedge (mother)
John R. Hedge (brother)
Elizabeth A. Hedge (sister)
Margaret E. (Prichard) Hedge (wife)

More information

1st Lt Willard C. Hedge graduated from Lincoln High School in 1928 and from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Business Administration in 1932. He was employed at the Western Paper Company before he enlisted in September 1942. He was sent overseas in August 1944.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously. The citation cited: When his platoon was pinned down by machine gun fire coming from a concealed enemy position, Lt Hedge, a platoon leader, crawled forward across a distance of approximately sixty yards and exposing himself with utter disregard for his own safety, hurled two hand grenades into the German emplacement, destroying the enemy gun and enabling his men to resume their advance. As he was endeavoring to return to his platoon, Lt Hedge was killed.

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

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Hildebrand Wright Family Tree, After Action Report 35th Infantry Division, www.findagrave.com - Loren Bender
Photo source: www.ancestry.com - U.S. School Yearbooks Lincoln, Nebraska / www.newspapers.com - The Lincoln Journal Star, 5 December 1944