Private First Class Vernon Dezutti

Pfc. Vernon J. Dezutti, 20, was killed in action in Germany February 23, 1945, while saving his commanding officer as they crossed the Roer River. Dezutti was inducted into the Army April 5, 1943. A test qualified him to study engineering at the University of Illinois. After that program was abandoned, however, he was placed in the infantry and sent overseas. Dezutti had been in France and Holland before being sent into Germany. Sgt. E. T. Hopkins, whose life was saved by Dezutti, describes his heroic act in a letter to Dezutti’s family: “I’ve recently returned from Europe where I was wounded at the same time and in the same place as Vernon was hit. He was in my squad and in my boat crossing the Roer river in the vicinity of Merken. I needn’t tell you how badly I felt when I found out. He was such a wonderful boy and a fine, cleancut lad. We all liked Vernon. You’re not alone in your sorrow, however, since so many of our friends were hurt or killed in this push. I was hit first and he helped me out of the water. Then when I looked around he had been shot. Not a word nor sound did I hear from him. I’m sure he died almost instantly. If I could have done anything for him I certainly would have. But in this situation I was helpless.”