103rd Cactus Division

Donald Dean Heitman was born in Redfield, South Dakota, on December 10, 1925. He was the sixth child born to Elmer and Clara Heitman. He attended Redfield High School and graduated at the age of eighteen. Donald was very active in band, orchestra, and sports. 

Following Donald’s graduation, he enlisted in the Army on January 28^th, 1944.  He was a member of C-Company, 410^th Regiment.

Donald was only in his second month on the front when he was killed by artillery fire on January 19, 1945, in France. The family received a letter from Sgt. Robert Ralston telling them about Donald’s experience in the service and how he was killed. Sgt. Ralston reported, “When Donald was hit, I rushed over to him and looked and saw that a piece of artillery shell had hit him in the head and he was killed instantly. The two men that were beside him were also hit, but they were just slightly injured.” Donald was repatriated back home in May of 1948.  He now rests in Peace and Honor at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.  Don was nineteen years old at the time of his death.

Sgt. Robert Ralston also reported that they called him Donald Jr. as he was the youngest.  He said Donald did not care for it much.