TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Ahearn, John Littleton

Date of birth:
November 30th, 1914 (Brooklyn, New York, United States)
Date of death:
June 23rd, 2004 (Phoenix/Arizona, United States)
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
1st Lieutenant (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Company C, 70th Tank Battalion, 4th Infantry Division "Ivy Division", U.S. Army
Awarded for:
Operation Neptune
For action performed on D-Day, June 6th, 1944 near Pouppeville/Manche département, Basse-Normandie, France. The tank unit of 1st Lieutenant John Ahearn was among the first to land on Utah Beach on 6th June 1944, D-Day. After moving inland, his tank was disabled by a mine. Attempting to rescue two wounded American paratroopers, he lost most of one leg and another foot to a mine.
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

Sources

  • - Balkoski, J., Utah Beach: The Amphibious Landing and Airborne Operations on D-day, June 6, 1944, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, U.S.A., 2006
    - Rootsweb.Ancestry.com

Photo