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Fields, Allen D. (629th)

Allen-D.-Fields-Photo-1Allen D. Fields

Biography:  Allen D. Fields was born on August 15, 1918, in Saltville, Virginia.  He was the son of Dave and Rebecca Cahill Fields and attended both elementary and high school in Saltville, graduating in 1935.  Allen worked as a farmer prior to entering the service.

Service Time:  Allen joined the Army on May 2, 1941 and was assigned to C Company of the 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion.  He served with them throughout their time in Europe, landing in England on January 8, 1943, and becoming a section leader.  He received credit for their five campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe and for his heroic conduct on February 3, 1945, he received a Bronze Star.  On April 30, 1945, Allen was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He also received the EAME Service Medal, the American Defence Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.  He left the service on September 20, 1945, at the rank of Sergeant.

Bronze Star Certificate

Discharge Certificate

Allen returned to his hometown and married the former Charlotte Smith Fields on November 17, 1950.  She was the daughter of Hobart and Pearl S. Smith. also of Saltville.  They had a son Tony, born in 1951, and two daughters Betty, born in 1954 and Lori in 1964.  Allen worked as an Industrial Painter for the Olin Corporation until he took early retirement and became the groundskeeper for the Saltville Medical Center.

In his spare time, Allen enjoyed fishing, hunting, reading and watching sports on TV.  He was also a member of the American Legion.  Allen passed way on January 29, 1998, and was buried in the Elizabeth Cemetery in Saltville, Virginia.

I want to thank Allen’s daughter, Betty, for providing the photo and information on her father.