Tec4 Truman Kimbro Name : Truman Kimbro
Rank : Technician 4th Class
Battalion : 2nd Engineer Combat Batt
Division : 2nd Infantry Division
Entered Service from : Texas
Date of Birth : Unknown
Date of Death : 19 December 1944
Place of Death : Rocherath (Belgium)
In Henri-Chapelle : Plot F, Row 6, Grave 28
Awards : Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Truman Kimbro's Story ...

Madison County native Truman Kimbro was born in Cottonwood and attended school in nearby Center.

Drafted into the Army in December 1941, he arrived in Europe in October 1943 with the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. Truman was among the Allied forces that landed on Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944.


D-Day, June 6, 1944 ... the Normandy invasion

Truman Kimbro was Killed in Action on December 19, 1944 near Rocherath in Belgium. Due to his action Truman was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously) and the Purple Heart.


Camouflaged pillbox in the forest near Rocherath

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CITATION
Tec4 Truman Kimbro (KIA)

MEDAL OF HONOR

"On 19 December 1944, as scout, he led a squad assigned to the mission of mining a vital crossroads near Rocherath, Belgium. At the first attempt to reach the objective, he discovered it was occupied by an enemy tank and at least 20 infantrymen. Driven back by withering fire, Technician 4th Grade Kimbro made 2 more attempts to lead his squad to the crossroads but all approaches were covered by intense enemy fire. Although warned by our own infantrymen of the great danger involved, he left his squad in a protected place and, laden with mines, crawled alone toward the crossroads. When nearing his objective he was severely wounded, but he continued to drag himself forward and laid his mines across the road. As he tried to crawl from the objective his body was riddled with rifle and machinegun fire. The mines laid by his act of indomitable courage delayed the advance of enemy armor and prevented the rear of our withdrawing columns from being attacked by the enemy."

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Truman Kimbro isn't forgotten back home. To honor him, the people of his hometown named a convention center after their hero. The Kimbro Truman Convention Center is situated on Trinity Street behind the Madison County courthouse in downtown Madisonville


the Truman Kimbro Convention Center

These days Truman Kimbro rests in the beautiful American Military Cemetery at Henri-Chapelle ... He is remembered and honored by his hometown people each and every visitor of the cemetery and the In-Honored-Glory website.


Tec4 Truman Kimbro's final resting place

Special thanks to Doug Sterner (Home of Heroes) and to Madison County Historical Sites
© www.In-Honored-Glory.info
published May 10, 2006