Edward Heffron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Heffron
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Private Edward Heffron in World War II
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| Nickname(s) | "Babe" |
| Born | 16 May 1923 South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | 1 December 2013 (aged 90) Stratford, New Jersey |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart |
| Relations | Joseph (father) Anne (mother) |
| Other work | Author |
Edward James "Babe" Heffron (born May 16, 1923 – died December 1, 2013) was an American soldier. He was a private in the United States Army during World War II. He served in E Company, which was part of the famous 101st Airborne Division. This group of soldiers was known for their bravery and was featured in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. In the show, Robin Laing played Heffron. Later in his life, Heffron wrote a book called Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends with his friend William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and journalist Robyn Post.
Contents
Who Was Edward "Babe" Heffron?
Edward James Heffron was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1923. He was one of five children in an Irish Catholic family. His father, Joseph, worked as a prison guard. Edward went to Sacred Heart Catholic School and then South Philadelphia High School. However, he had to leave school early to help his family earn money during the Great Depression.
Heffron found a job at New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey. He worked on ships, preparing them to become light aircraft carriers. This job meant he didn't have to join the military, but he chose to enlist anyway. He wanted to join the airborne forces with his friend, Anthony Cianfrani. Heffron joined the Army on November 7, 1942.
Heffron's Military Service in World War II
Edward Heffron joined E Company as a replacement soldier. He fought in several important battles during World War II. These included Operation Overlord in France, Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, and the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium.
Bravery in the Battle of the Bulge
During the Battle of the Bulge, Heffron was a machine gunner. He showed great courage and was given the Bronze Star Medal for his actions. He also helped free prisoners from the Kaufering concentration camp in Landsberg, Germany. Later, his unit helped capture Hitler's mountain retreat, the Eagle's Nest.
A Promise Kept: Remembering Friends
While at jump school, Heffron made a promise with his two best friends, John T. "Johnny" Julian and J. D. Henderson. They agreed that if something happened to one of them, the others would collect their belongings. They would also contact the family and carry out any special wishes. Henderson was hurt in Veghel and returned to the U.S.
Johnny Julian became Heffron's closest friend during their time fighting together. On January 1, 1945, Julian was hit by enemy fire. Heffron tried to reach him, but the intense German fire made it impossible. Later, Julian's squad brought his body back. Heffron found it very hard to look at his friend.
Because of this sad event, Heffron always disliked New Year's Day. It reminded him of Julian's death. He also felt a similar sadness about Christmas Day, remembering his difficult experiences in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. It took him twelve years after the war to call Julian's mother, finally keeping the promise he had made.
Accepting a Surrender
In May 1945, after E Company captured the Eagle's Nest, Heffron was on guard duty. A German general, Theodor Tolsdorff, approached with 31 vehicles. The general wanted to surrender, but only to an officer. Heffron, being an enlisted man, could not accept the surrender. Lieutenant Carwood Lipton was the officer who finally accepted it.
Life After the War
After World War II, Heffron returned home. He started working for Publicker Industries, a company that made whiskey in Philadelphia. His brothers also worked there. In 1966, the company moved, and Heffron decided not to go with them. For the next 27 years, he worked on the Philadelphia waterfront, checking cargo.
Heffron and his wartime friend, William "Wild Bill" Guarnere, remained close friends for their entire lives. Guarnere was Heffron's best man at his wedding in 1954. He was also the godfather to Heffron's daughter, Patricia.
Band of Brothers and Later Years
In the Band of Brothers miniseries, Scottish actor Robin Laing played Edward Heffron. Heffron himself appeared at the end of the last episode, talking about his company. He also had a small appearance in the fourth episode, waving a flag in Eindhoven.
In 2007, Heffron wrote his book, Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends, with William Guarnere and Robyn Post. The book shared their experiences in E Company from 1942 to 1945.
Even though he didn't finish high school, Heffron was made an honorary graduate of West Point High School in West Point, Virginia, in 2013.
For many years, Heffron found it hard to celebrate Christmas. This was because of the friends he lost during the tough fighting around Christmas 1944. Towards the end of his life, he worried about dying close to Christmas. He didn't want to spoil the holiday for his family and friends.
Death and Legacy
Edward Heffron passed away on December 1, 2013, at Kennedy Hospital in Stratford, New Jersey. He was 90 years old. He was survived by his wife, Dolores, and his daughter, Patricia.
On September 17, 2015, a statue of Edward Heffron was revealed in his old neighborhood in South Philadelphia. This date was the 71st anniversary of Operation Market Garden. The statue is about 5 feet 7 inches tall. It has a plaque that tells about Heffron's military career. It also includes a bronze heart that holds some of his and his wife's ashes.
See also
In Spanish: Edward Heffron para niños
