Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Bronze Star group of eight representative of those awarded to First Lieutenant Frederick T. Heyliger, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division - awarded the British Military Cross

Bronze Star, slot brooch; Purple Heart, enamelled, reverse hand engraved, ‘Frederick Heyliger’, slot brooch; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, with arrow head and four bronze stars on ribbon; Victory Medal 1945; Korea Service Medal; U.N. Korea Medal; G.B., Military Cross, G.VI.R. copy, reverse privately inscribed, ‘Lt. F. T. Heyliger October 22nd 1944’, about extremely fine (8) £70-90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Named and Attributable American Medal Groups.

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Note: the above medals are representative of those awarded to Lieutenant F. T. Heyliger.

M.C. recommendation: ‘In the Bethune area on the night 22/23 October 1944 the above mentioned officer was in command of the assault party which crossed the River Rhine to effect the rescue of 130 Airborne personnel. It was largely due to Lt. Heyliger’s unrelenting efforts that the operation was entirely successful. The signal light from the approaching parachutists was some 800 yards upstream when the assault party crossed the river. On reaching the far bank Lt. Heyliger without any hesitation went off at a run to contact the Airborne personnel upstream. This despite the fact that Germans had been sighted 150 yards from the river bank in the forward edge of the wood. Lt. Heyliger contacted the party and personally shepherded them to the assault boats at the bridgehead. His conduct and leadership throughout this operation was of an extremely high order.’

Frederick Theodore Heyliger was born in Concord, Massachussetts. He enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps on 25 November 1940, aged 24 years, 5 months. In 1941 he transferred to the U.S. Army and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 506th Parachute Regiment, 23 May 1942. He earned the British Military Cross for service in the Netherlands, 22/23 October 1944 - helping in the rescue and evacuation of some men of the British 1st Airborne Division that were stranded on the wrong side of the Rhine at the end of Operation ‘Market Garden’. Wounded in action in the Netherlands, 31 October/1 November 1944 - being accidentally shot by one of his own men. Awarded the Bronze Star for service in Korea. Also awarded the Presidential Unit Citation; Belgian, Croix de Guerre and ‘Holland Lanyard’. Original M.C. stated to have been stolen whilst recovering from his wounds in hospital.

With copied M.C. recommendation and copied WW2 service papers. Together with one cloth and four metal badges for display purposes.

This lot is sold as seen and is not subject to return. Please see saleroom notice on lot 280 for fuller details.