Private First Class Harold David Bonner 34877056

Private First Class Harold David Bonner 34877056 US Army KIA. He was born on September 12, 1925 the son of David and Euna Bonner, of 505 North West Jackson Mississippi. He enlisted on November 16, 1943 at the age of 18, at Camp Shelby Mississippi. He served in 1st Platoon, Company F, 253^rd Infantry Regiment, 63^rd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on April 6, 1945 at the age of 19.

On April 6, 1945, First Platoon was leading the advance through the open ground towards the town of Buchhof. PFC Joe Aguzzi was the first scout, and being first scout gave him the responsibility of leading the company through the open ground. At this time, a sniper shot Aguzzi in the left leg, and the bullet hit his femur and the femoral artery. He fell to the ground in excruciating pain as his M1 rifle went flying out of his hand and his helmet went flying off his head. The men of F Company walked past him and left him for the medic. Upon approaching him, the medic gave him a sulfur pill, morphine, and a tourniquet for his wound. The medic continued on with the advance to help the other wounded. During this time, one of the men walking past him was one of Aguzzi’s two best friends: Harold D. Bonner, who was a BAR man.  Bonner had been shot in the stomach by a sniper – most likely the same sniper that shot Aguzzi. Bonner died quickly after being shot before the medic was able to get to him.

He was Awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, The American Theater of operations, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with 2 battle star, and the World War Two Victory Medal. 

PFC Harold D. Bonner has the wrong date of death on his grave stone.

PFC. Joe Aguzzi was an eye witness to the death of PFC Harold D. Bonner 34877056 of Jackson Mississippi. Mr. Aguzzi’s account to this is without question he knew Mr. Bonner very well they sheared a foxhole for the majority of their time in combat. Mr. Aguzzi while wounded between the towns of Untergriesheim and Buchhof Germany witnessed PFC. Harold D. Bonner being “shot in the stomach by a sniper – most likely the same sniper that shot Aguzzi. Bonner died quickly after being shot before the medic was able to get to him.” Mr. Aguzzi could not have witnessed this event if it had occurred on April 7, 1945 because on that date Mr. Aguzzi was in the hospital being treated for his wound suffered on April 6, 1945. Therefore PFC Harold D. Bonner must have been killed in action on April 6, 1945.

1- The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher

2- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/display-partial-records.jsp?f=3475&mtch=1&q=34877056&cat=all&dt=893&tf=F&bc=sd

3- 1930 United States Federal Census

4- 1940 United States Federal Census