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Capt Donald Lewis “Bill” Bonawitz

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Birth	:	17 Oct 1920 Edgar, Carbon County, Montana, USA
Death	:	18 Jan 1989 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
Burial	:	Mountview Cemetery, Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate	:	45.7667007, -108.5588989
Description	:	___________________________________________________________ Captain Donald Lewis "Bill" Bonawitz US ARMY FIRST ARMORED DIVISION WORLD WAR II Captain Donald Bonawitz was promoted to Captain Jun 1945, and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry under fire and the purple heart. Captain Bonawitz also had 2 additional brothers serving the US Armed Forces in WWII at the same time he was. On Oct 22 1943 Captain Donald Bonawitz brother Corporal Earl E Bonawitz was wounded in the South Pacific and awarded the purple heart. On July 23rd 1944, Captain Donald Bonawitz youngest brother Corporal Lester Dale Bonawitz was killed in action in France. Hardin,... Read More	___________________________________________________________ Captain Donald Lewis "Bill" Bonawitz US ARMY FIRST ARMORED DIVISION WORLD WAR II Captain Donald Bonawitz was promoted to Captain Jun 1945, and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry under fire and the purple heart. Captain Bonawitz also had 2 additional brothers serving the US Armed Forces in WWII at the same time he was. On Oct 22 1943 Captain Donald Bonawitz brother Corporal Earl E Bonawitz was wounded in the South Pacific and awarded the purple heart. On July 23rd 1944, Captain Donald Bonawitz youngest brother Corporal Lester Dale Bonawitz was killed in action in France. Hardin, MT officer writes From Italian Front Garryowen, March 28, 1944 - The desire of all soldiers to get the war won and be home again is described by Lieutenant Donald L Bonawitz, of Garryowen. "I never knew there were so many unselfish people in all my life as I know after being in battle for such a long time," Lieutenant Bonawitz writes from Italy. An action in which light tanks under Lieutenant Bonawitz's command destroyed two larger German Mark IV tanks and broke through the German lines to inflict other damage was described in the Associated Press dispatch early in February 1944. The Hardin man formerly operator of a roller skating rink has been in the service three years. Billings Gazette (Billings, Montana) Mar 29, 1944 Hardin Officer Blast Germans Lieutenant Bonawitz In Italy Tank Fight With the fifth Army in Italy, light tanks in a daring sortie against a threatening German force in Campolean engaged heavier Mark IV tanks in action late today destroying two before turning their guns on enemy infantry forming for a counter attack. Breaking through the enemy the light tanks destroyed two self-propelled guns, killed at least 75 Germans with shells and machine gun fire and forced the abandonment of three mortars. "We knew we had to get in the first shot and that it had better be good," said Lieutenant Donald "Bill" Bonawitz who used to run a roller skating rink in Hardin, Montana. "We were sitting on the edge of the woods when we saw them. One was moving down the road and the other was parked under a camouflage net a little way beyond." The range was about 600 yards. Corporal Everett B Perrien of Watson, Ark., Lieutenant Bonawitz's gunner, aimed at the moving tanks. His first shell hit the forward port. The Mark IV stopped dead on its tracks. Perrien fired two more rounds at the stricken tank, then turned his guns on the parked tank. The first shell went over. So did the next two. The third was a bulls-eye and the Mark IV was lost in a blaze of exploding ammunition. There were no other Mark IV's visible at the moment so the light tanks were free for a little mischief. The Driver, Sergeant Wesley Scheer of Taylor, Texas drove "Big Nell" up to the crest of the little knoll. Thirteen Germans were dug in on the rear slop. Right behind "Big Nell" cam "Fever" with Sergeant James A. Gillespie of Danville, Kansas. "Fever's" first shell mowed down three Germans and the rest started running for cover. "Fever's" machine guns caught them all. Beyond was another little knoll that was crawling with Germans. They were massing for a counter-attack against the infantry. Bonawitz waited until they had approached within 500 yards and then summoned in his other tanks. Eight of them lined up on the crest and poured fire into the shallow depression, raking the first assault wave. The grey lines broke and fled. Sixty bodies lay on the open bottom. "It was like a cowboy movie," said Corporal Harry Cabral of Honolulu, Hawaii. "We chased them over two hills and across a creek. We ran them out of three mortar positions. Then their tanks came running up in all directions and it got pretty hot." Bonawitz received orders to withdraw. The light tanks retreated, turned their turrets rearward and firing at the pursuing German Armor. Artillery belted the fleeing tanks. "It was worse than anything I had see in the whole North African campaign." said Bonawitz. Later the battalion commander Major William R. Tuck of Athens, Georgia, praised the men. The mission had been a complete success. At the loss of two tanks, two Mark IV's and two self-propelled guns mounted on the Mark III chassis had been destroyed. A counter attack had been broken up and 75 of the enemy killed. Major Tuck said he thought the Latium bridgehead might be good tank country after all. Billings Gazette (Billings, Montana) 1944 February 3 Sliver Star Awarded to Hardin, MT Lieutenant With the Fifth Army, Italy, Aug 25, 1944; First Lieutenant Donald L Bonawitz, Hardin, MT., recently won the Silver Star for gallantry while serving with the First Armored Division in Italy. Bonawitz dismounted from his tank under fire and removed 40 mines which lay in the path of his platoon, it was reported. Later wounded , he refused to be evacuated and continued to lead his platoon through the remainder of the day. The Billings Gazette Saturday, August 26, 1944

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Capt Donald Lewis “Bill” Bonawitz's memorial?
Capt Donald Lewis “Bill” Bonawitz's memorial is located at: Mountview Cemetery, Billings, Yellowstone County, USA.
When did Capt Donald Lewis “Bill” Bonawitz death?
Capt Donald Lewis “Bill” Bonawitz death on 18 Jan 1989 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Capt Donald Lewis “Bill” Bonawitz's memorial?
Latitude: 45.7667007
Longitude: -108.5588989

Family Members:

Parent

Albert Lewis Bonawitz

(1883 - 1971)

Iva May Sheets Bonawitz

(1886 - 1973)

Siblings

Albert Elport Bonawitz

(1905 - 1990)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mountview Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7667007, -108.5588989

2. Sunset Memorial Gardens
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7710991, -108.5622025

3. Beth Aaron Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7770200, -108.5589710

4. Calvary Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7780991, -108.5597000

5. Absaroka Beartooth Columbarium
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7708800, -108.5355600

6. Holy Cross Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7400017, -108.5552979

7. Saint Stephens Episcopal Church Columbarium
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7924000, -108.5478000

8. Terrace Gardens Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7733900, -108.6009160

9. Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7843370, -108.6072460

10. Luther Sage Kelly Gravesite
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7980000, -108.4888000

11. Boothill Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8025017, -108.4800034

12. Cooke Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7035500, -108.6184500

13. Riverside Cemetery
Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8218994, -108.4449997

14. Saint Anthony Catholic Cemetery
Laurel, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6939650, -108.7685320

15. Laurel Cemetery
Laurel, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6944008, -108.7692032

16. Yellowstone National Cemetery
Laurel, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6962050, -108.7726520

17. Vermandel Ranch Cemetery
Billings, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7057200, -108.3378200

18. Shepherd Cemetery
Shepherd, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9429740, -108.3490560

19. Huntley Cemetery
Huntley, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8988991, -108.2780991

20. Evangelical Cemetery
Shepherd, Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9580490, -108.3162640

21. Scandia Cemetery
Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9721985, -108.3411026

22. Pioneer Cemetery
Stillwater County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6575012, -108.8944016

23. Helm Memorial Cemetery
Yellowstone County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9888992, -108.7750015

24. Park City Cemetery
Park City, Stillwater County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6247120, -108.9165690