Zimmerman Henry Charles “Hank”, born 26-03-1925, in Larksville Pennsylvania, 
the son of the late Silas Zimmerman and Katherine, born McNees, Zimmerman. In a small town in Wilkes-Barre-Scranton area where coal mining was the primary occupation. he was the oldest of seven boys. When he was 15 years old, he joined the CCCs and was sent to Chambersburg, PA where he worked to build roads and a lake.
This site today, is a park which is open to the public. Hank worked in the mines for a very short time after leaving the CCCs. His wanted to enlist in the Merchant Marines, but his father would not sign for him to go as it was too dangerous. Finally, at age 18, Hank was drafted but turned down several times because of sugar in his urine. Eventually, he convinced the recruiting officer that he wanted to serve his country and on 30-12-1943 he was sent to Camp Croft in South Carolina 
where he did his basic training. One day, someone came running into the barracks saying they were looking for volunteers for the paratroopers. Being one always looking for excitement, Hank decided this was for him.
Zimmerman was then sent to Fort Benning, North Carolina (He did not train at Currahee) for his parachute training. He was then sent to England to await assignment to an outfit. Finally in November of 1944 Hank was sent to Mourmelon, France 
where he was assigned to Easy Company, 506th PIR, 
101st Airborne Division 
who were in need of replacements. Shortly after Thanksgiving the group was told to “Get on the trucks.” We had no idea where we were going.They joined up with the rest of the Company outside Bastogne, 
near Foy. The Germans were located in the woods across a road from where they were situated. They were ill prepared to fight in such cold weather, not having the proper clothing and they had little in the way of ammunition, but they did the best them could with what we did have.
On arrival they saw many soldiers leaving the area. They were a group of greenies who were fleeing the area commenting that the Germans had some outfits surrounded. Their comments were “Poor bastards.” They were trained to fight behind the enemy lines which meant they were always surrounded. Another comment from our guys was that “We are the reception committee.” We took whatever ammunition and guns these men had since we didn’t have time to get most of our prior to leaving Mourmelon. To say that we weren’t scared would be an understatement. We were all on edge, but ready to do whatever had to be done.
The weather was considered to be the worst the area had in over 100 years It set records. Temperatures were 20 to 30 degrees below zero F. In order to keep their feet from freezing, which many did despite their attempts, they would wrap them in burlap bags or anything they could find handy. It was a must to change their socks often to allow them to dry. They found some German casualties, but all they could do was to stack them up until the ground thawed and they could be given a proper burial.
Major Dick Winters, 
who was a captain at this point, was our company commander and a very good one. They heard stories of how US prisoners were slaughtered by the Germans. After hearing this they were not above killing the Germans whenever they got the chance. Hank always had a good relationship with Winters and did what he was told because he knew he was his superior and had more information and experience than himI.
While in Bastogne and Foy they were running very low on ammunition and other supplies. The weather was overcast with snow. Although this was a trying time, their spirits were high. His sergeant, Walter (Blackjack) Hendrix 
and him would harmonize Paper Doll singing as loud as they could to let the Germans know that they were not intimidated by them. Fighting was heavy at times and they were shelled many times. It was here also, that he met a fellow by the name of Frank Mellett. 
They became close friends. He was from Brooklyn, New York and was an avid Dodger fan. As they moved into Foy, Frank on 13-01-1945 (age 24) was hit by a sniper as he peered into the window of a farm house. Walter Hendrix survived the war and died 15-02-2000, age 75 in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.
Hank one point the German soldiers tried to sneak into the pine grove where we were dug in, wearing white sheets. They stood out like a sore thumb making it possible for us to fire on them. They suffered heavy casualties. While chasing the Germans through the woods and the fields, he hecame upon some dead German soldiers. He briefly stopped by one who caught his eye. He appeared to be about 14 years old. Frank couldn’t get over the fact that such young children and even some old men, 40-50 years olds, were involved in this battle.
Hank truly believe they survived during this time only because they had the attitude that our time was up at any moment and they just lived from moment to moment. Their thought was mainly on how to keep our fellow men alive without regard for our own lives. This is evidenced by Wild Bill Guarnere’s 
heroic action to save the life of Joe Toye 
when he lost his leg. Bill lost his leg saving Joe.
Another incident while they were dug in, in the pine grove, one of their guys was hit by shrapnel losing his arm. When the medics picked him up, he very calmly asked if they would get his watch from his arm. His Dad had given it to him and he didn’t want to lose it.
From this point they moved on into Alsace region of France where they lost quite a few more men. From there they were sent back to Mourmelon for a brief respite. After this they marched back into Germany, crossing the Rhine River and eventually going into Buchloe in the foothills of the Alps near Landsberg. It was here that they came upon a concentration camp. The sights were unbelievable and the stench was nauseating. This was a sight he was not prepared to see and hope and pray never to see again. The general feeling of the men at this point was one of disgust that one human being could do something like this to another. They were all very upset over these conditions. It was like a bad dream from which we thought we would wake. Those who today say there never was a holocaust had better not meet up with him.
Although there were incidences of friendly fire killing our own men, Hank was fortunate enough not to have seen it.
They eventually arrived at Hitler’s Berchtesgaden’s Berghof 
It was here that he and a few others were sent out to get transportation. They came upon Hitler’s bus, car and a few other vehicles, but they were all no operational. There was a firehouse in town. They took one of the trucks and drove it back making all the noise they could. They also came across a cellar full of cognac which they agreed not to tell anyone about. Someone else either discovered it or was told about it. When they returned, it was all gone. 
There were rumors that Hitler had commit suicide, but we were happy if this indeed was the case. However, many of us felt that he did not do this and that it was the body of someone else that they found. There was talk that from here we were going to be sent to the Pacific, but before that happened, the Japanese surrendered. We were then offered the opportunity to reenlist and be sent back to the States or to stay on. Hank elected to reenlist and was then sent back to the States where he became a member of the 82nd Airborne 
and was stationed at Fort Benning until his final discharge date.
After leaving the Army, Hank met my future wife. He held many temporary jobs finally settling down in Elizabeth, New Jersey. There he found a permanent job with the M&M Candy Company where he worked for the next 33 years. He now retired and living a life of ease along the North Carolina coast
His moral in life is to pray that someday this world will find true peace and that all men will stop fighting. War is hell! he pray and feel for all the young men today who are involved in the Iraq situation. War has turned him completely against the use of guns. Although they do have a purpose in hunting, etc. it saddens him greatly that they are also used in so many wrongful ways.
Death and burial ground of Zimmerman Henry Charles “Hank”.
Henry Zimmerman on the right and Popeye Wynn, 
the pictures was taken in the woods outside of Foy. The photo was taken in December 1944.
Henry “Hank” Charles Zimmerman age 86, of Sellersville, Pennsylvania; formerly of Oak Island, NC passed away on Monday, 03-10-2011 at Rockhill Mennonite Community. He was preceded in death by three brothers; William, Silas and Robert Zimmerman. His son Jon H. Zimmerman, died in 2001. Hank was cremated and his ashes given to family or friend..
Leave a Reply