Posthumous Silver Stars to Two Boys
Posthumous award of Silver Stars to two Waterloo men killed in action was announced Thursday by official releases received here.
Pfc. Edwin G. Blonigan, whose sisters, Miss Ruth Blonigan and Mrs. William Merritt, reside at 216 Riehl street, was cited for gallantry in action on Mar. 15, 1945, in France.
“During a night attack two platoons of company K entered a large minefield and suffered numerous casualties,” the citation reads.
“Despite intense mortar and artillery fire falling in the area, Private Blonigan and a comrade volunteered fro the hazardous task of evacuating the wounded. They made five trips into the minefield; and as they worked the enemy used flares and the mortar and artillery fire increased in intensity.
“Undaunted, they worked throughout the night. As they entered the minefield for the fifth time, they were killed by the burst of a mortar shell.
“By their magnificent courage at the sacrifice of their own lives, Private Blonigan and his comrade assisted in saving the lives of many others.”
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, August 02, 1945, Page 5
Edwin G. Blonigan was born May 16, 1912 to William and Ida L. Smith Blonigan. He died Mar. 15, 1945 and is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint Avold, France. He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com; fieldsofhonordatabase.com
