Paul A. Helt
CHRONOLOGY
From the Shamokin News Dispatch, 9 September 1943:
Private Paul A. Helt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Helt, of Lykens, is officially reported as missing in action somewhere in the North African war sector.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 30 Nov 1943:
Lykens Soldier Killed in Action….
One Lykens soldier was killed in action, another missing in action and six other Central Pennsylvania service men have lost their lives in the Mediterranean area, according to a War Department announcement today.
Pfc. Paul A. Helt, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Helt, Lykens, reported missing in action in mid-summer, was killed in action in the invasion of Sicily, 10 July 1943, according to word received by his parents….
Private First Class Helt was a member of the Lykens High School basketball team….
Helt was graduated from Central Pennsylvania Business College and the Eckels School of Embalming. Prior to enlisting in the service, 8 July 1942, he was employed by his father in the Helt Furniture Company. Trained with a medical unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, he transferred to an infantry outfit and went into overseas duty in November 1942, the African invasion. He was in Casablanca at the time of the Roosevelt-Churchill conference….
A member of the Lykens-Methodist Church, the Sunday School orchestra, and the liberty Hose Company Band, he is survived by his parents….
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From the Shamokin News Dispatch, 30 November 1943:
Parents of two Lykens soldiers yesterday were notified their sons were killed in action in war zones. Both were reported missing in action in recent weeks.
The casualties are Private First Class Paul A. Helt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Helt, the former a prominently known funeral director, and Staff Sergeant James E. Hoffman, son of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Hoffman. Both were former Lykens High School football and basketball stars.
Private Helt was killed in action in the invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943 and sergeant Hoffman was killed 14 November 1943 in the South Pacific area. The two youths were close friends from early childhood.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 19 January 1944:
Gold Star Mothers Purchase First Bonds
Lykens — The first War Bonds on the opening day of the Fourth War Loan drive here were purchased by the two Gold Star mothers.
The two mothers, Mrs. John M. Thompson and Mrs. Arthur L. Helt, Lykens, lost sons overseas. Cpl. John M. Thompson Jr. was killed in action in the Middle East in June 1942. Pfc. Paul A. Helt was killed during the invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943….
The bonds were handled [in Lykens] through the Budd Theatre Bond Agency….
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 20 January 1944:
Mrs. Helt’s son, Pfc. Paul A. Helt, died in the invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943. He had also served in the invasion of North Africa, and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
See also:
Cenotaph Location. Calvary United Methodist Cemetery Cemetery, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Findagrave #114170058. Also includes biography.
World War II – Lykens and Wiconisco Homeoming Celebration, 1946