Pfc. Andrew Norman Hilty was born in Bellwood, Illinois, on May 28, 1916, to Fred O. Hilty and Bertha Krause-Hilty, and had eight sisters and four brothers. The family resided at 326 North 24th Avenue in Bellwood. He attended Proviso Township High School where he play basketball and football, but he left school after his junior year and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. He then worked at the American Can Company, Maywood, Illinois, as a millwright. He married Agnes Erickson and they became the parents of a daughter and a son. His father died in 1944.
On October 16, 1940, Andrew registered when the Selective Service Act took effect on October 16, 1940, and names his wife as his contact person. Being that he was married with dependents prevented him from being drafted into the army, but when the law was changed, he enlisted on March 15, 1943. His serial number was 36 956 185. Little is known about his training, but it is known he trained at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, and Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
What is known is that he joined Company B, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. It is not known when he joined the regiment. He may have joined it before the Anzio breakout in Italy and liberated Rome, or he may have joined it while the 3rd Division was preparing for the invasion of southern France in Operation Dragoon in the summer of 1944.
On August 15, 1944, the 3rd Division landed in southern France and liberated Saint Tropez. It then fought its way up the Rhone Valley through the Vosges Mountains, and reached the Rhine at Strasbourg, Germany, on November 26th or 27th. It then maintained its positions until January 23, 1945, when it helped clear out the Colmar Pocket. On March 15, 1945, the 3rd Division attacked the Siegfried Line. It was during the initial attack that Andrew was killed. He was buried on March 17, 1945, in Plot A, Row 8, Grave 87, in the United States Military Cemetery, St. Avold, France. He was also listed as Missing in Action and his wife received a telegram stating he was MIA.
MRS AGNES HILTY
ROUTE 1
MELROSE PARK IL
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ANDREW N HILTY HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SINCE FIFTEEN MARCH PERIOD IF FURTHER DETAILS OR OTHER INFORMATION ARE RECEIVED YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY NOTIED PERIOD
ULIO
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
On March 27, 1945, the Office of the Quartermaster General that Andrew had been Killed in Action in France. HIs wife was sent another telegram.
MRS AGNES HILTY ROUTE 1 MELROSE PARK IL
THE SECRETARY OF WAR ASKS THAT I ASSURE YOU OF HIS DEEP SYMPATHY IN THE LOSS OF YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ANDREW N HILTY WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION REPORT NOW RECEIVED STATES HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION FIFTEEN MARCH IN EUROPEAN AREA CONFIRMING LETTER FOLLOWS=
J A ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL.
Andrew’s mother wrote a letter, dated August 8, 1945, to the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, requesting that her son’s body be returned to the US. She received a response in a letter dated September 5th stating that the military’s policy was not to return the dead home until after the war had ended. She also was provided information of where Andrew was buried and the location of his grave. There were several more letters from his mother which appear to have ended when she was informed that his wife, Agnes, was Andrew’s legal next of kin.
Agnes was sent a letter dated October 9, 1947 asking her where she wanted her husband to be buried. She had moved to Elgin, Illinois, so after contact was reestablished she was sent the same letter, dated January 13, 1948, asking her to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where she wanted he husband buried. She returned the form and indicated that Andrew should remain buried at the US Military Cemetery, St. Avold, France. She was sent this letter.
Pfc. Andrew N. Hilty, ASN 36 956 185
Plot E, Row 29, Grave 39
Headstone: Cross
St. Arvold (France) U.S. Military Cemetery
Mrs. Agnes Hilty
124 South Weston
Elgin, Illinois
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved ones have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will also have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington 25, D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of the cemetery.
While interment and beautification activities are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may rest assured that this final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
H. FELDMAN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
