Item: ON10292
Original U.S. WWII 1st Infantry Division Silver Star North Africa D-Day Grouping - Photo in Life Magazine
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Original Items: One-of-a-kind collection! This is extraordinary. Purchased from the Veteran’s estate. John (Jack) N. Heavner (ASN 12003399) a true hero, was a member of the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) during WWII and fought in every major campaign the 1ID participated in during WW2. Those include; North Africa, Invasion of Italy, the D-Day landing at Omaha beach, across Europe and into Germany at Aachen through the end of the war. He received both the Silver Star and Bronze Star medals for Gallantry in Action. His Silver Star can be confirmed on an index list included with this collection. His grave marker which denote his service and medals can be found at this link.
In the May 17th, 1943 edition of LIFE Magazine "Jack" Heavner is photographed with his unit in North Africa after a battle with a German Panzer Division.
- Original Ike Jacket (size 36S) named to Heavner with 18th Infantry Regiment enamel Distinctive Unit Insignia pins to each lamp, a 1st ID Big Red One insignia patch to left shoulder, and bullion embroidered Combat Infantryman Badge. Medal ribbon bar with the following awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, European- Africa- Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Invasion Arrowhead, and FOUR battle stars, American Campaign Medal, and the American Defense Medal. Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Ruptured Duck, six cuff bars indicating 36+ months of overseas service. Belgian Red and Green Fourragère shoulder cord as well as the French Croix De Guerre Fourragère shoulder cord.
- Heavner's Original WWII issue Silver Star in Case.
- Original May 17th, 1943 edition of LIFE Magazine with Photo of Heavner and an article featuring his unit in North Africa.
- Original wartime photo of Heavner in uniform.
- Overseas Garrison cap 18th Infantry Regiment enamel Distinctive Unit Insignia pin.
- Original M-43 "double buckle" boots in very good condition in size 10 with "BFG" and "GOODYEAR" marked diamond tread soles and "GOODYEAR" marked composition heels. Right boot has top buckle loop missing.
- Original Custom made German WWII Parachute Silk Shirt.
- Original Army issue OD wool shirt.
- Original Army issue wool pants.
- Research binder verifying Heavner's service, grave marker and more.
1st Infantry Division in World War Two:
Shortly after the German invasion of Poland, beginning World War II in Europe, the 1st Infantry Division, under Major General Walter Short, was moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, on 19 November 1939 where it supported the U.S. Army Infantry School as part of American mobilization preparations. It then moved to the Sabine Parish, Louisiana area on 11 May 1940 to participate in the Louisiana Maneuvers. The division next relocated to Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn on 5 June 1940, where it spent over six months before moving to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, on 4 February 1941. As part of its training that year, the division participated in both Carolina Maneuvers of October and November before returning to Fort Devens, Massachusetts on 6 December 1941.
A day later, on 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and, four days later, Germany declared war on the United States, thus bringing the United States into the conflict. The division was ordered to Camp Blanding, Florida, as quickly as trains could be gathered and winter weather permitted, and arrived on 21 February 1942. The division, now under Major General Donald C. Cubbison, was there reorganized and refurbished with new equipment, being re-designated as the 1st Infantry Division on 15 May 1942. Within a week, the division was returned to its former post at Fort Benning, Georgia, from where it was expedited on 21 June 1942 to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation for wartime overseas deployment final preparation. The division, now under the command of Major General Terry Allen, a distinguished World War I veteran, departed the New York Port of Embarkation on 1 August 1942, arrived in Beaminster in south-west England about a week later, and departed 22 October 1942 for the combat amphibious assault of North Africa.:75, 622
As part of II Corps, the division landed in Oran, Algeria on 8 November 1942 as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. Elements of the division then took part in combat at Maktar, Tebourba, Medjez el Bab, the Battle of Kasserine Pass (where American forces were pushed back), and Gafsa. It then led the Allied assault in brutal fighting at El Guettar, Béja, and Mateur. The 1st Infantry Division was in combat in the Tunisian Campaign from 21 January 1943 to 9 May 1943, helping secure Tunisia. The campaign ended just days later, with the surrender of almost 250,000 Axis soldiers. After months of nearly continuous fighting, the division had a short rest before training for the next operation.
In July 1943, the division took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, still under the command of Major General Allen. Lieutenant General George S. Patton, commanding the U.S. Seventh Army, specifically requested the division as part of his forces for the invasion of Sicily. It was still assigned to the II Corps. In Sicily the 1st Division saw heavy action when making amphibious landings opposed by Italian and German tanks at the Battle of Gela. The 1st Division then moved up through the center of Sicily, slogging it out through the mountains along with the 45th Infantry Division. In these mountains, the division saw some of the heaviest fighting in the entire Sicilian campaign at the Battle of Troina; some units losing more than half their strength in assaulting the mountain town. On 7 August 1943, Major General Allen was relieved of his command by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, then commanding the II Corps. Allen was replaced by Major General Clarence R. Huebner who was, like Allen, a decorated veteran of World War I who had served with the 1st Infantry Division throughout the war.
When that campaign was over, the division returned to England, arriving there on 5 November 1943 and secured Formigny and Caumont in the beachhead by the end of the day. The division followed up the Saint-Lô break-through with an attack on Marigny, 27 July 1944.
The division then drove across France in a continuous offensive, reaching the German border at Aachen in September. The division laid siege to Aachen, taking the city after a direct assault on 21 October 1944. the division was quickly moved to the Ardennes front. Fighting continuously from 17 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, the division helped to blunt and reverse the German offensive. Thereupon, the division, now commanded by Major General Clift Andrus, attacked and again breached the Siegfried Line, fought across the Ruhr, 23 February 1945, and drove on to the Rhine, crossing at the Remagen bridgehead, 15–16 March. The division broke out of the bridgehead, took part in the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, captured Paderborn, pushed through the Harz Mountains, and was in Czechoslovakia, fighting at Kynšperk nad Ohří, Prameny, and Mnichov (Domažlice District) when the war in Europe ended. Sixteen members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.
Casualties
Total battle casualties: 20,659
Killed in action: 3,616
Wounded in action: 15,208
Missing in action: 499
Prisoner of war: 1,336
Awards and Prisoners taken
Medal of Honor: 16
DSC: 131
Legion of Merit: 16
Silver Star: 4,258
Soldiers Medal: 100
Bronze Star: 12,568
Air Medal: 65
Prisoners taken: 188,382
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