Huston H. Averette

Private First Class Huston Hammet Averette was killed in action in World War II on July 18, 1944 in the intense hedgerow fighting in Normandy following the June D-Day Invasions.    He was 23 years old.

Averette was born on April 17, 1921 in Vance County, North Carolina, the son of Hammet H. Averette and Ella Whit Averette. He graduated from Dabney High School in 1939 and was employed by Big Star grocery in Henderson, N.C. before enlisting in the U.S. Army on October 17, 1942.

PFC Averette was deployed to the European Theater of War in April, 1943, serving in the 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division. The 83rd  arrived in England on April 16, 1944 with its first divisional headquarters at Keele Hall in Staffordshire. After training in Wales, the division took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy, landing at Omaha Beach on June 18, 1944, and immediately got into the brutal hedgerow fighting south of Carentan.   July saw fierce fighting, with enemy counterattacks, destroyed German tanks, and units getting cut off, requiring air/jeep resupply.  The   330th  pushed forward towards the U.S. Army objective of St. Lo, battling through difficult terrain and roadblocks, gaining significant ground.    The Division suffered heavy casualties, including PFC Averette, who was killed in action on July 18, 1944, before reaching its immediate objective -- the St. Lo-Periers Road – on July 25, 1944.  

Private First Class Huston Hammet Averette is buried in Island Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Willamsboro, N.C.    

Last edited: 28 April 2026