HOWARD W. JACO

     Howard W. Jaco of Park Hills, served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a private first class in the Company L, 10th Regiment Third Battalion, 5th Infantry.  He served in Europe. 

     The following is his story: 

     "On the tenth day of September, 1944, we crossed the Mozelle River in France.   We began to dig in between Nancy and Metz with artillery fire coming the first night." 

     "We dug the trench about 13 inches deep.  We dug deeper each day because of the continued artillery fire, until we had it where we were able to stand up in the hole and not be able to see over the top." 

     "On the thirteenth day of September, 1944, I was hit by incoming artillery fire.  I dove in the fox hole head first and was hit in the ankle.  If I had entered the hold in my regular position, I would have been hit in the head or neck instead of the ankle." 

     "Four other soldiers had been playing poker on a raincoat just outside my foxhole at the time I had been hit.  None of the four were injured but the raincoat was covered with shrapnel."

     "I received the Purple Heart on Oct. 3, 1944 at the 185th General Hospital in France."