Henry Cecil Doler was born February 15, 1922 in Slate Spring, MS to Jonathan Patrick and Henrietta West Doler. Mr. Doler died December 14, 2011 at age 89.
SSG Doler served in World War II with the 313th Regiment of the 79th Infantry of the US Army from 1942 until 1945. He landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on June 14,1944 and participated in front line combat in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany until December 19, 1944 when he was seriously wounded in Germany near the Siegfried Line.
In addition to the Purple Heart, he received other medals, including the Bronze Star, which was awarded to him for risking his own life to rescue a wounded soldier.
In 2004 he returned to France with his son Jon, for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day and for recognition of the 79th Infantry for the liberation of the French town of La Hay Du Puit.
While there, he was thanked many times by the French people for helping to liberate their country. He was always proud to have served the United States of America.
Submitted by his daughter Donna Criss