35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  PFC Donald Leroy Hitz    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



Fox Company
35th Infantry Regiment
Korean War


"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"

National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal United Nations Korean Service Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal



The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Donald Leroy Hitz, RA16301233, who died in the service of his country on July 22nd, 1950 in South Korea. The cause of death was listed as MIA to Declared Dead. At the time of his death Donald was 20 years of age. He was from Dunn County, Wisconsin. Donald's Military Occupation Specialty was 4745-Light Weapons Infantryman.

The decorations earned by PFC Donald Leroy Hitz include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.


Corporal Hitz was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on July 22, 1950. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Corporal Hitz was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

I am Jerry Wieland and am writing this on behalf of the Hitz family. Specifically Harold Hitz and his wife Judy and my sister-in-law, Judy (Hitz) Wieland.

Harold is Donalds' brother and my sister-in-law Judy is his niece.

Donald was the second oldest of 13 children. Very little is known about his circumstances in Korea and most of that has been gleaned recently from web sites such as this one.

If anybody served with or knows anything about Donald, his probable death on July 22, 1950 while serving with Company F, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division on the Pusan Perimeter. His family would surely love to hear from you.

Harold Hitz 3014 Wilson Menomonie, WI 54751 715-235-4051

or

Steven & Judy (Hitz) Wieland N7547 County Rd B Colfax, WI 54730