HEINZEN, DONALD W.

Reburial services for Corp. Donald W. Heinzen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Heinzen, Route 3, Sheboygan, were held at 8:30 a.m. today at Gerend’s Funeral Home and at 9 a.m. at St. Dominic’s Church.

The Rev. George J. Knackert, pastor, celebrated the requiem high mass. Burial was made on the family lot in Calvary Cemetery with the Rev. Ignatius Staskunas, curate, officiating.

Members of the Wolf-Olson Post No. 1230, Veterans of Foreign Wars, conducted military rites at the graveside under the direction of Post Commander Henry W. Honold.

The firing squad was composed of A. M. Konrad, Joseph Kelly, Jerry Slefert and Robert Pladson, while Ralph Head, Peter Fields and Herbert Becker served as colorbearers and color guards. Jay Rust was the bugler.

The presentation of the flag to Corp. Heinzen’s mother was made by Sgt. Barney Jones, USMC, who escorted the body to Sheboygan.

Pallbearers were Orville and Arthur Heinzen, Stanley Gehr, Robert Henke, Raymond Derus and Anton Tauschek.

Members of the Holy Name society of St. Dominic’s parish, led by the Rev. Father Staskunas, recited the rosary at the funeral home Wednesday evening.

Corp. Heinzen was born in Sheboygan on July 26, 1923, the son of Herbert and Martha Heinzen. He attended St. Peter Claver Parochial School and Central High School, graduating with the class of 1941.

Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps in November, 1942, he was employed at the Sellinger Glove Company. He received training at San Diego, Calif., and left for overseas duty in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater on June 5, 1943.

On June 7, 1945, he was killed in action on the Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, after participating in the campaigns on Bougainville, New Caledonia and Guam.

He was cited shortly before his death for leading his ambushed platoon in the mountains on Ishikawa Isthmus in a frontal attack on Japanese positions, to push back the enemy and allow his squad to withdraw.

For “heroic achievement” in action against the Japanese he was awarded the Bronze Star medal posthumously. The presentation was made to the parents in June, 1946.

Survivors are the parents, and two brothers, Norman Heinzen, Sheboygan, and Pfc. Richard Heinzen, stationed at the Marine Recruit Training Center at Parris Island, S. Carolina.

Attending the rites from away were Pfc. Richard Heinzen, Parris Island, and Mrs. Mary Derus and Mrs. Pauline Derus, Manitowoc.