Note:  This information comes from the Heroes from the Heartland book.  It is a letter from World War II veteran Earl Durban, and was submitted by his brother, Clarence. 

This is a letter written on October 22, 1991 by Earl of his WWII experiences :

I am 76 years old, and the nicest thing that ever happened to me was in 1943 when I was in Africa during World War II.  We were fighting our way across North Africa with the 1st Armored Division.  We were driving the enemy out of a small town early in the morning.  It was very difficult to see.  An arab came running out of his house yelling, "Mine in the road!"  In thirty seconds our three jeeps and all of us would have been blown up.  I still remember him like it was yesterday.  Thanks to him for saving our lives.

This information about Earl was written in the Plain City, Ohio, newspaper by reporter Bernice Galllimore:

Durban was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions in Tunisia, when he and 45 men were cut off from their company by enemy fire.  With the enemy bearing down, Durban had to take action.  He asked for a volunteer to drive a jeep and take him across an uncharted minefield to a command post during a complete blackout.  The two men arrived safely, picked up food and gasoline, gained information concerning the enemy, and returned to get their buddies.  Durban and his comrade safely led the rest of the soldiers back across the field to safety, without losing a man.  Durban said, "I look back now and wonder how I did it."

His brother Clarence went on to share that Earl was injured twice receiving the Purple Heart, and was also involved with the Anzio beach landing. He was told that one wound included shrapnel in his Earl's eye, and several nurses lovingly picked it out and took care of him in the hospital area.  The day after Earl left this medical tent, a bomb hit and those nurses were killed.