FOUND DEAD

    INDIANAPOLIS - INS - A 33-year-old Indianapolis man was found dead in Ins garage on Christmas day: Police said Herman E. Waldon apparently died of carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in his car, in the garage.

[The Herald, Jasper, IN, 27 Dec 1956, Thu, Page 3]

Indianapolis Man Is Found Dead in Car

   INDIANAPOLIS (INS) A 33-year-old Indianapolis man was found dead in his garage on Christmas day. Police said Herman E. Waldon apparently died of carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in his car in the garage.

[The Daily Reporter, Greenfield, IN, 26 Dec 1956, Wed, Page 1]

Fumes Cause Death Of Ulan In Garage

   The body of Herman E. Waldon, 33 years old, 2309 North Goodlet Avenue, was found early yesterday In his car parked in the garage at his home. Deputy Coroner Dr. Dennis Nicholas issued a preliminary verdict of suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

[The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN, 26 Dec 1956, Wed, Page 16]

(courtesy of  Randal Eugene Waldon]

Herman registered for the draft in Danville, IN on 17 February 1942 and was inducted into the Army at Indianapolis, IN on 15 October 1942.

19421 Morning reports for Company E, 508th PIR are unavailable but in March 1943, Pvt Waldon was seen taking a 10-day furlough between 9 March and 19 Match, 1943.  This period would have coincided with his completion of jump school at Fort Banning, GA.

Something, perhaps an injury in the Tennessee Maneuvers or a practice jump, caused him to be transferred out of the 508th prior to the regiment being sent to the ETO..

He did go to England nonetheless as his new unit, Company M, 16th Infantry, 1st Division, was preparing for D-Day.

Where he was located during that campaign is unknown but in July 1944 he was wounded in action and evacuated to a field hospital for treatment of shrapnel in his thigh.  He was not returned to duty until September 1944.

On 25 October 1945 Pfc Waldon arrived in New York, NY from Le Havre, France aboard the SS Argentina which from 1942 to 1946 was operated as the troopship Argentina.

Herman married Katherine Richards in Marion county, Indiana.  She never remarried after Herman's death and was buried next to him after her death in 2007.

[Note: Herman married Katherine Richards at which time he changed his name from Walden to Waldon which has apparently been a tradition among numerous family members.]

It would seem that the 508th lost a good man as Herman conducted himself well in combat.  Not only did he earn a Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster but also a Bronze Star with a "V" (for Valor)  device and an Oak Leaf Cluster.  It appears that the first  Bronze Star was awarded to him after he was the only man to return from a patrol. He was given the nickname ''Lucky'' and it stuck.