Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Lot 5328    Session 19 (4:30pm Friday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $360

USA, GROUP OF FOUR: European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; British Military Medal (GVIR Indiae Imp). First three medals unnamed as issued, Pte. 1st. Cl. P.M.Hiegel: U.S.Army on last medal. The named medal has been impressed but renamed. Very fine - good very fine.

Together with US Army Combat Infantry badge; US Army Infantryman collar badge and US insignia collar badge; US Army brass hat badge and uniform large buttons (3) and small buttons (2); pair of embroidered stripes for Private First Class.

MM: awarded to PFC Paul Heigel, US Army (the only one awarded to the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion).

Recommendation: During a powerful enemy counterattack upon Bergstein, Germany, on 6 December 1944, Private First Class Hiegel, from a position within his tank destroyer, observed a comrade hit by rifle fire while manning a machine gun. Because of the gun's hazardous position, other troops in the vicinity were reluctant to man the weapon. Private First Class Hiegel, sensing the situation, voluntarily left his tank destroyer, and smashed through a hail of enemy machine gun and small arms fire to reach the gun position. Courageously, he remained at the post and assisted the gunner throughout the entire engagement. By his gallant actions, Private First Class Hiegel aided materially in beating back the enemy with disastrous casualties. (33408088 PFC Paul N.Hiegel US Army recommended by Courtney H.Hodges, Lieutenant General, USA, Commanding General, First U.S.Army)

Paul M.Hiegel, unskilled oiler of machinery, born 13Aug1919, inducted into Army of the United States 19Dec1941 at Erie, Pennsylvania; reported for active duty 26Dec1942; arrived in European Theatre 31Dec1943; assigned 644 Tank Destroyer Bn 09Mar1944 as Private; change of MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) from Radio Operator to Rifleman 06Jun1944; change of MOS to Truck Driver (light); Returned to USA 13Nov1945; Honourable Disch.18Nov1945 at Indiantown Gap Mil. Res., PA; Died 08Apr2003, last residence at Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernadino, California.

With massive amount of research includes History of 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion - p37 shows TEC5 Paul M.Heigel as recipient of British Military Medal, also listed on p72 as a member of Company 'A'; various unit operational reports; information on Hill 400 at Bergstein (the Battle of the Huertgen Forest) where PFC Heigel was awarded the MM; service record details, and much more.