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Frederick Heyliger

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Frederick Heyliger
Nickname(s)Moose
Born(1916-06-23)June 23, 1916
Acton, Massachusetts, US
DiedNovember 3, 2001(2001-11-03) (aged 85)
Concord, Massachusetts, US
Buried
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1940–1947
RankCaptain
UnitE Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsBronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Military Cross (United Kingdom)
Spouse(s)Mary, Evelyn

Frederick Theodore 'Moose' Heyliger (June 23, 1916 – November 3, 2001)[1] was an officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II. He took part in D-Day and Operation Market Garden. Heyliger was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Stephen McCole.

Early life

Heyliger was born in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.[1] Heyliger worked as a farm hand throughout his youth, and graduated from the Lawrence Academy at Groton in 1937.[2] Heyliger completed three years of college.[3]

Military service

Heyliger was assigned to E Company before it left the U.S. and was later assigned as the Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, mortar platoon leader.[4]: 160  After Richard Winters was assigned as 2nd Battalion Executive Officer (XO), First Lieutenant Heyliger took command of Easy Company from Winters' first replacement.[4]: 156–157, 160  Heyliger commanded Easy Company during Operation Pegasus on October 23, 1944, and oversaw the rescue and evacuation of some of the British 1st Airborne Division that were stranded on the German side of the line after the failed Operation Market Garden across the Rhine.[5][4]: 160–162  After the successful rescue of 138 men from the British 1st Airborne Division, for which he received the British Military Cross, he was accidentally shot by one of his own men on October 31, 1944, while on patrol and talking with Richard Winters about commanding Easy Company.[4]: 164–165  He then underwent skin and nerve grafts before being discharged in February 1947.[4]: 305 

Later years and death

After Heyliger returned home to Massachusetts, he enrolled at the University of Massachusetts and graduated in 1950 with a degree in ornamental horticulture.[4]: 305  Heyliger died on November 3, 2001, in Concord, Massachusetts, at the age of 85.[1] He died one day before the 10th and final episode of Band of Brothers premiered on HBO. He is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Massachusetts.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JYK3-9J9 : 20 May 2014), Frederick T Heyliger, 03 Nov 2001; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  2. ^ "The Academy Journal", Fall 2014, p. 35. Retrieved 2014-10-30
  3. ^ WWII Army Enlistment Records: on-line NARA Archival Database
  4. ^ a b c d e f Ambrose, Stephen E. (1992). Band of Brothers: Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7434-6411-6.
  5. ^ Malarkey, Donald G.; Welch, Bob (2008). Easy Company Soldier: The Legendary Battles of a Sergeant from World War II's "Band of Brothers". St. Martin's Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-312-37849-3.
  6. ^ A Company of Heroes, p. 208
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