"A Gravestone Never Tells the Soldier’s Story"

George Henry Pruitt was the son of George Henry Pruitt (1883–1935) and Isabella Martina (Gillian) Pruitt (1884–1951). He was the brother of Martina Pruitt (b. 1921), the husband of Blanche Theresa (Gaines) Pruitt (1923–1998), and the father of George Henry Pruitt (b. 1942). Born on March 26, 1922, in Camden, Camden County, New Jersey, Pruitt was living with his parents at 879 Chelton Avenue when he registered for the U.S. Draft on June 30, 1942. At the time, he was employed as a truck driver for Ben’s Coal Supply on Mulford Street in Camden. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 31, 1942. After training at Camp Crowder, Missouri, he deployed to Europe and arrived at Utah Beach in August 1944. Pruitt served in the 43rd Signal Construction Battalion (Colored), a segregated unit responsible for constructing and maintaining communications lines vital to Allied operations during World War II. On June 10, 1945, Pruitt’s unit, A Company of the 43rd Signal Construction Battalion, was installing a telephone line across the Weser River in Bremen, Germany. Technician Fourth Class (Tec 4) Pruitt (Service No. 32486541) witnessed a canoe carrying Tec 4 Leroy Edward Kemp (Service No. 37053793) overturn in the river. Kemp, born December 16, 1922, was from New Haven, Franklin County, Missouri. Pruitt entered the water in an attempt to rescue Kemp but was unable to locate him and was subsequently unable to return to shore. Despite efforts by other soldiers, both men drowned. Tec 4 Pruitt was posthumously awarded the Soldier’s Medal, recognising his actions at Bremen, noting that he entered the river fully clothed, attempted multiple times to reach his fellow soldier, and was ultimately overcome by the strong current. The citation read, “For heroism at Bremen, Germany, June 10, 1945, while working on a river crossing of a telephone line, Tech. 4th Grade Pruitt observed a comrade fall into the water. Without hesitation and without regard for his own safety, he dived into the river fully clothed and swam to where the drowning man was last seen. Repeated attempts to locate his comrade failed and Tech. 4th Grade Pruitt himself tried to return to the shore himself but was overcome and pulled under the surface by the strong current of the river.” Both Pruitt and Kemp are buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery near Margraten, in Section L, Row 4, Grave 4, and Section J, Row 15, Grave 20, respectively.

Sources: findagrave - George Henry Pruitt findagrave - Leroy Edward Kemp Netherlands American Cemetery

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) removed the panel from the Netherlands American Cemetery that told the story of George Henry Pruitt. This occurred after a series of executive orders ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs was issued by the United States Administration.