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Hedley, Debonsall (6997907): Difference between revisions

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|first=Debonsall
|first=Debonsall
|class_section=6C
|class_section=6C
|class_rank=T/Sgt
|class_rank=Technical Sergeant
|birth_year=1911
|birth_year=1911
|death_year=1978
|death_year=1978
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|class_number=14
|class_number=14
|class_display=14
|class_display=14
|awards=American Defense Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star; Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal
|awards_grid=American Defense Medal@@European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star;;Good Conduct Medal;;World War II Victory Medal
|awards_extra=
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png;Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png;Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png@@Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png
|rank_final=Technical Sergeant
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Hedley, Debonsall (6997907)|Debonsall Hedley]]''' (1911–1978) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States; Quaker) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 14.
'''[[Hedley, Debonsall (6997907)|Debonsall Hedley]]''' (1911–1978) was a Quaker Ritchie Boy (Class 14) who served as a technical sergeant, including the Normandy campaign, before an honorable discharge in November 1945.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
He graduated from Class 14 at Camp Ritchie. According to the separation document attached, he enlisted on November 24, 1939. He was discharged from service on November 2, 1945. He was in the Normandy campaign, and earned the WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He served 4 years, 8 months and 29 days continental service, and 1 years, 2 months, 10 days of foreign service.
Debonsall Hedley was born in 1911. A Quaker by religion in roster data, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on 24 November 1939 and later trained at Camp Ritchie, graduating with Class 14.
 
Hedley served overseas in the Normandy campaign. His separation papers identify him as a technical sergeant of the 403rd Air Base Depot and credit about four years, eight months of continental service and about one year, two months of foreign service. He was honorably discharged on 2 November 1945. Documented awards include the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
 
He died in 1978.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
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| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 1911 — Born.
* 24 November 1939 — Enlisted in the U.S. Army.
* Camp Ritchie Class 14.
* Normandy campaign (European Theater).
* 2 November 1945 — Honorably discharged as technical sergeant, 403rd Air Base Depot.
* 1978 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [https://discover.hsp.org/Record/ead-GSP060 Historical Society of Pennsylvania — finding aid GSP060]
* [https://www.worldcat.org/title/232362028 WorldCat record 232362028]
* RB Archive scan set DH.pdf / DH-page-001–003.jpg (private copies aligned with gallery documents)
* [[:File:6021299114558626.jpg|Camp Ritchie training document (gallery)]]
* [[:File:6021299111225293.jpg|Awards / discharge document (gallery)]]
* [[:File:6021299107891960.jpg|Separation / discharge document (gallery)]]
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)

Latest revision as of 14:27, 16 September 2026

Debonsall Hedley
Personal details
Born1911
Died1978
NativityUnited States
ReligionQuaker
AwardsAmerican Defense Medal
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN6997907
RankTechnical Sergeant
Camp RitchieClass 14 (2 December 1943 – 31 January 1944)
Section6C
Awards and honors
American Defense Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star Good Conduct Medal World War II Victory Medal
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Debonsall Hedley (1911–1978) was a Quaker Ritchie Boy (Class 14) who served as a technical sergeant, including the Normandy campaign, before an honorable discharge in November 1945.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Debonsall Hedley was born in 1911. A Quaker by religion in roster data, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on 24 November 1939 and later trained at Camp Ritchie, graduating with Class 14.

Hedley served overseas in the Normandy campaign. His separation papers identify him as a technical sergeant of the 403rd Air Base Depot and credit about four years, eight months of continental service and about one year, two months of foreign service. He was honorably discharged on 2 November 1945. Documented awards include the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

He died in 1978.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • OCR (100%) of `6021299114558626.jpg` (CAMP RITCHIE, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, Camp Ritchie).
  • OCR (99%) of `6021299107891960.jpg` (gallery document) — dated 2 November 1945 — rank mentioned: Sergeant.
  • OCR (97%) of `6021299111225293.jpg` (DISCHARGE, bronze star, Good Conduct) — rank mentioned: Captain.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 67
Class_ASN 6997907
Class_Name HEDLEY, DeBonsall
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 1911 — Born.
  • 24 November 1939 — Enlisted in the U.S. Army.
  • Camp Ritchie Class 14.
  • Normandy campaign (European Theater).
  • 2 November 1945 — Honorably discharged as technical sergeant, 403rd Air Base Depot.
  • 1978 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://ritchieboys.org/index.php?title=Hedley,_Debonsall_(6997907)&oldid=123716"