Herschel Leslie Heimbigner

Herschel Leslie Heimbigner, 93, died peacefully in his sleep Wednesday, Dec. 2. Hersh was born on the family wheat farm just west of Ritzville on Dec. 7, 1921.

After graduating from Ritzville High he left for Cheney with an interest in industrial arts, but his plans were interrupted by WWII. Hersh served in the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division, Company B seeing action in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Luzon, and Manila. He earned the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star.

On January 13, 1945, two weeks after returning from war, he marrie...