35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  CPL Don Herald    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"



George Company
35th Infantry Regiment
World War II


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





The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, CPL Don Herald, 35770998, who died in the service of his country on April 17th, 1945 in Luzon. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Don was 28 years of age. He was from Shively, West Virginia.

The decorations earned by CPL Don Herald include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.


Killed by Friendly Fire from Mortars.

Burial:
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

Don enlisted 7 August 1943

(From Perry Ball's "Sgt Roach's Story")

A barrage of mortar shells then began to land on the northern edge of the G Company position occupied by the 2nd Platoon and where McConeghey and Dundas had just returned. 2nd Platoon Sergeant SSGT Albert Klynstra of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. and Pfc. Don Herald from the Communications Section of the Headquarters Platoon were killed and 10 others were wounded. The barrage virtually wiped out the 2nd Platoon McConeghey said he was close to being unconscious when he saw Klynstra in a foxhole off to his right. Klynstra was leaning against the back of his foxhole after the end of the mortar barrage and knew he had been mortally wounded. He looked up into the sky, lifted his arms, and said, "God, forgive me my sins." He lost consciousness shortly afterwards. McConeghey also recalled seeing Pfc. Belton E. Owens kneeling over his close friend Pfc. Herald.