134th Infantry Regiment Website
35th Infantry Division Research Center
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website35th Infantry Division Research Center"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Otto Wayne Hefner, son of Marshall Frederick and Ruby (Krause) Hefner, was born March 8, 1921 in Hartville, Missouri. He moved to Kansas sometime between 1922 and 1930. He registered for the draft February 16, 1942. At that time he was living in Dodge City, Kansas. He was inducted into the Army July 15, 1943 and served in Company K, 320th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Private First Class July 1, 1944, landed at Omaha Beach July 6, and was promoted again to Sergeant, Squad Leader July 25, 1944. Sgt Otto W Hefner was reported missing July 30, 1944 in the vicinity of Torigni sur Vire, France, south of St Lo and was later confirmed killed in action on that date. He is buried at Little Creek Cemetery, Hartville, Missouri.
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Silver Star Medal Citation |
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Sergeant Otto W Hefner, 37534297, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of * * * , Normandy, France, on 19 July 1944. When intense enemy mortar, machine gun and small arms fire made the position of his platoon untenable, Sergeant Hefner and two other members of his squad stood fast, signaled the balance of the platoon to move to the rear, then delivered a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy positions. This action brought heavy return fire from the enemy, wounding Sergeant Hefner and his two companions, who nevertheless continued to fire upon the enemy until the platoon had reached cover. By his gallant self-sacrifice, Sergeant Hefner earned for himself a place of honor in the annals of fighting infantrymen. Entered military service from Kansas. General Orders No. 50, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 4 November 1944 |
