PVT Henry Gunther Witt was born in Brunsbüttelkoog, Kreis Dithmarschn, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on 15 Jun 1924 the 2nd of 3 sons born to Johann Peter Heinrich and Irma (Kreuger) Witt. The family of 5 had emigrated from Germany in 1928 and settled in Brooklyn, New York where Johann worked as a painter. The family moved often but stayed in Brooklyn. Henry completed 3 years of high school but went to work for the Belmont Smelting and Refining Company to help support the family, likely because his father had only worked a few weeks in 1939. While his older brother was working for and with his father the younger brother was still attending school.
Henry was drafted in February 1943 and after completing his basic military training was sent to England where he was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. PVT Witt then trained with the unit as it prepared for the planned amphibious assault that was to take place on the beaches of Normandy. PVT Witt was with his unit on the morning of 6 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action in the landing.
PVT Witt rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.
Henry's brothers both served in the U.S. Army in WW2. Herbert John Witt rose to the rank of TSGT and Lothar Henry Witt served from December 1944 to July 1946.
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