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Purple
Heart |
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Howard Bennett
"Benny" Vath
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| Seaman
Second Class
U S. Navy |
Howard
Bennett "Benny" Vath enlisted in Erie, PA on September 10, 1943. He
went to Boot Camp at U.S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes,
Illinois, Rear Admiral, John Downes US Navy, Commanding Officer. He was
in the crew of the USS Holder when it was commissioned on January 18,
1944. On March 24, 1944 they left Norfolk, Virginia for Bizerte, North
Africa. On April 11, 1944 the USS HOLDER (DE401) Escort in a convoy
from Norfolk, Virginia, was hit by an aerial torpedo, 46 miles off Cape
Bengut, Algeria, North Africa in the Mediterranean Sea. Howard was
lying in a 20mm gun tub on the starboard side, amidship. The wounded
were taken aboard the USS Forster DE334 and went on to Bizerte,
Tunisia. He was pronounced dead by the doctor aboard this ship. Howard
was buried on April 15, 1944 in Mateur, Tunisia with full military
honors. In June 1948 Howard was brought home and buried in Zion
Cemetery, Worth Township.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American
Defense Service Medal and American, European-African-Middle Eastern,
and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.
Research
submitted by Maxine
Hughes
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