1LT. Averil , Denniston, Sr.

Service number: O-1012562 (originally 20244319)

Age: 28

Born: January 10, 1916, Cuero, DeWitt County, Texas, USA

Hometown: West Englewood, Bergan County, New Jersey

Family:

Barr Cushing Averill, Sr. (father)

Bessie E. (nee Denniston) Averill (mother)

Barbara Averill/Kinkead (sister)

Willard Cushing Averill (brother)

Gage Averill (brother)

Barr Cushing Averill, Jr. (brother)

Dorothy Maryann (nee George) Averill/Widnall (wife)

Rank: First Lieutenant

Function: Company Commander

Battalion: Trains Division

Division: 7th Armored Division

Company: Headquarters

Date of death: December 20, 1944

Status: Killed In Action

Place of death: Samrée, Arrondissement de Marche-en-Famenne, Luxembourg, Belgium

Spot: Near Ortho, Belgium, south of Samree, Belgium

Awards / Commendations:l

★ Silver Star

★ Bronze Star

★ Purple Heart

★ World War II Victory Medal

★ Combat Infantryman Badge                                              

★ Marksmanship Badge

★ American Campaign Medal

★ Army Good Conduct Medal

★ European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign              

Grave number: Not available

Cemetery:

George Washington Memorial Park

Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey, USA

Date of enlistment: January 6, 1941, Neark County, New Jersey

Other information:

First assigned to the 102nd Cavalry, New Jersey National Guard.

On December 20, 1944 in Belgium, 1st. Lt. Averill (7th Armored Division) led a tank platoon into the town of Samree to locate and destroy some German tanks that had been spotted nearby. He was not heard from after that. Posthumously, he received a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Photo of the news article provided by Niek Hendrix, member #48703167

West Englewood, New Jersey newspaper article:

LIEUTENANT AVERILL'S WIDOW WILL GET HIS HERO MEDAL

West Englewood Officer Set Up Defense, Saved Soldier

WAS OUTNUMBERED

The German counter-offensive in the Belgian Bulge was in full force December 19 when First Lieutenant Denniston Averill of West Englewood, officer in the Armored Infantry, was assigned the job of re-establishing an outpost necessary to our forces.

The spot where the outpost has been was in Ortho. When he reached the area he found it still under a withering barrage of enemy fire. Three anti-aircraft half tracks had been knocked out and were a blazing mass of wreckage. Lieutenant Averill set up a defensive position that withstood the enemy's assault, then carried to safety a badly wounded man who had been trapped in the flames of a wrecked half track.

On the following day, Averill led two tanks which were defending the town of Samree against overwhelming odds. His vehicle knocked out in the battle, Lieutenant Averill continued to fight on foot until killed by the outnumbering enemy.

His widow Dorothy M. Averill, and an 8-month-old son, live at 490 Churchill Road in West Englewood. Mrs. Averill has been presented with the Silver Star, awarded for her husband's heroism in Belgium and a Bronze Star in recognition of Lieutenant Averill's heroic service on August 28, 1944.