There’s often been a discussion of weight as it pertains to soldiers in WW2. The US Army had height and weight requirements, but I suspect wartime demands may have overlooked them for certain situations.
Arguably, I think you’d be in a tough position to prove that an exceptionally tall or exceptionally overweight soldier would be on the front line in a foxhole. However, there’s enough evidence that such soldiers did fight in WW2, but likely in a rear or support position.
Indeed, there are a few publications that created humorous cartoons alluding to this fact (especially with the Navy).
Cpl Edward Young of the Nergo Port Battalion in Hawaii is probably the heaviest African-American, weighing in at 330 pounds.
S/Sgt August Stackwell from the Air Base Squadron in March Field, CA, is likely the heaviest white soldier, weighing in at 407 pounds.
Yank Magazine also profiled a few persons and collected nominations for who the heaviest soldiers are.
Below are some images that highlight that fact.
