Medal of Honor
Recipients of the 3rd Infantry Division
Last Update
March 31, 2016
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World War I
Barkley,
John L. Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, Company K, 4th Infantry, 3d Division.
Place and date: Near Cunel, France, 7 October 1918. Entered
service at: Blairstown, Mo. Born: 28 August 1895 Blairstown, Mo.
G.O. No.: 44, W.D., 1919. Citation: Pfc. Barkley, who was
stationed in an observation post half a kilometer from the
German line, on his own initiative repaired a captured enemy
machinegun and mounted it in a disabled French tank near his
post. Shortly afterward, when the enemy launched a counterattack
against our forces, Pfc. Barkley got into the tank, waited under
the hostile barrage until the enemy line was abreast of him and
then opened fire, completely breaking up the counterattack and
killing and wounding a large number of the enemy. Five minutes
later an enemy 77-millimeter gun opened fire on the tank
pointblank. One shell struck the drive wheel of the tank, but
this soldier nevertheless remained in the tank and after the
barrage ceased broke up a second enemy counterattack, thereby
enabling our forces to gain and hold Hill 25.
Hays, George P. Rank and organization: First
Lieutenant, U.S. Army 10th Field Artillery, 3d Division. Place
and date: Near Greves Farm, France, 14-15 July 1918. Entered
service at: Okarche, Oklahoma. Born: 27 September 1892, China.
G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919. Citation: At the very outset of the
unprecedented artillery bombardment by the enemy, his line of
communication was destroyed beyond repair. Despite the hazard
attached to the mission of runner, he immediately set out to
establish contact with the neighboring post of command and
further establish liaison with 2 French batteries, visiting
their position so frequently that he was mainly responsible for
the accurate fire therefrom. While thus engaged, 7 horses were
shot under him and he was severely wounded. His activity under
most severe fire was an important factor in checking the advance
of the enemy.
World War II
Adams, Lucian Rank and
organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 30th Infantry, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near St. Die, France, 28
October 1944. Entered service at: Port Arthur, Tex. Birth: Port
Arthur, Tex. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty on 28 October 1944, near St. Die,
France. When his company was stopped in its effort to drive
through the Mortagne Forest to reopen the supply line to the
isolated third battalion, S/Sgt. Adams braved the concentrated
fire of machineguns in a lone assault on a force of German
troops. Although his company had progressed less than 10 yards
and had lost 3 killed and 6 wounded, S/Sgt. Adams charged
forward dodging from tree to tree firing a borrowed BAR from the
hip. Despite intense machinegun fire which the enemy directed at
him and rifle grenades which struck the trees over his head
showering him with broken twigs and branches, S/Sgt. Adams made
his way to within 10 yards of the closest machinegun and killed
the gunner with a hand grenade. An enemy soldier threw hand
grenades at him from a position only 10 yards distant; however,
S/Sgt. Adams dispatched him with a single burst of BAR fire.
Charging into the vortex of the enemy fire, he killed another
machinegunner at 15 yards range with a hand grenade and forced
the surrender of 2 supporting infantrymen. Although the
remainder of the German group concentrated the full force of its
automatic weapons fire in a desperate effort to knock him out,
he proceeded through the woods to find and exterminate 5 more of
the enemy. Finally, when the third German machinegun opened up
on him at a range of 20 yards, S/Sgt. Adams killed the gunner
with BAR fire. In the course of the action, he personally killed
9 Germans, eliminated 3 enemy machineguns, vanquished a
specialized force which was armed with automatic weapons and
grenade launchers, cleared the woods of hostile elements, and
reopened the severed supply lines to the assault companies of
his battalion.
Antolak, Sylvester Rank and organization:
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24
May 1944. Entered service at: St. Clairsville, Ohio. Birth: St.
Clairsville, Ohio. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: Near
Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he charged 200 yards over flat,
coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machinegun nest during the
second day of the offensive which broke through the German
cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in
advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machinegun,
machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by
bullets and knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to
his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder
deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he continued to rush
directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachine
gun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards of the
enemy strong point, where he opened fire at deadly close range,
killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining 10 to surrender. He
reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so
badly needed, chose to lead the way toward another strong point
100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets
concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead nearly three-fourths
of the space between strong points when he was instantly killed
by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his example, his squad went
on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice,
superb fighting courage, and heroic devotion to the attack, Sgt.
Antolak was directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans,
capturing an enemy machinegun, and clearing the path for his
company to advance.
Headstone of Sylvester
Antolak in Italian Cemetery
Bender, Stanley Rank and organization: Staff
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company E, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near La Lande, France, 17 August 1944.
Entered service at: Chicago, 111. Born: 31 October 1909,
Carlisle, W. Va. G.O. No.: 7, 1 February 1945. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty. On 17 August 1944, near La Lande,
France, he climbed on top of a knocked-out tank, in the face of
withering machinegun fire which had halted the advance of his
company, in an effort to locate the source of this fire.
Although bullets ricocheted off the turret at his feet, he
nevertheless remained standing upright in full view of the enemy
for over 2 minutes. Locating the enemy machineguns on a knoll
200 yards away, he ordered 2 squads to cover him and led his men
down an irrigation ditch, running a gauntlet of intense
machinegun fire, which completely blanketed 50 yards of his
advance and wounded 4 of his men. While the Germans hurled hand
grenades at the ditch, he stood his ground until his squad
caught up with him, then advanced alone, in a wide flanking
approach, to the rear of the knoll. He walked deliberately a
distance of 40 yards, without cover, in full view of the Germans
and under a hail of both enemy and friendly fire, to the first
machinegun and knocked it out with a single short burst. Then he
made his way through the strong point, despite bursting hand
grenades, toward the second machinegun, 25 yards distant, whose
2-man crew swung the machinegun around and fired two bursts at
him, but he walked calmly through the fire and, reaching the
edge of the emplacement, dispatched the crew. Signaling his men
to rush the rifle pits, he then walked 35 yards further to kill
an enemy rifleman and returned to lead his squad in the
destruction of the 8 remaining Germans in the strong point. His
audacity so inspired the remainder of the assault company that
the men charged out of their positions, shouting and yelling, to
overpower the enemy roadblock and sweep into town, knocking out
2 antitank guns, killing 37 Germans and capturing 26 others. He
had sparked and led the assault company in an attack which
overwhelmed the enemy, destroying a roadblock, taking a town,
seizing intact 3 bridges over the Maravenne River, and capturing
commanding terrain which dominated the area.
Britt, Maurice L. Rank and organization: Captain (then
Lieutenant), U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date:
North of Mignano, Italy, 10 November 1943. Entered service at:
Lonoke, Ark. Born: 29 June 1919, Carlisle, Ark. G.O. No.: 23, 24
March 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Disdaining enemy hand grenades and close-range machine pistol,
machinegun, and rifle, Lt. Britt inspired and led a handful of
his men in repelling a bitter counterattack by approximately 100
Germans against his company positions north of Mignano, Italy,
the morning of 10 November 1943. During the intense fire fight,
Lt. Britt's canteen and field glasses were shattered; a bullet
pierced his side; his chest, face, and hands were covered with
grenade wounds. Despite his wounds, for which he refused to
accept medical attention until ordered to do so by his battalion
commander following the battle, he personally killed 5 and
wounded an unknown number of Germans, wiped out one enemy
machinegun crew, fired 5 clips of carbine and an undetermined
amount of Ml rifle ammunition, and threw 32 fragmentation
grenades. His bold, aggressive actions, utterly disregarding
superior enemy numbers, resulted in capture of 4 Germans, 2 of
them wounded, and enabled several captured Americans to escape.
Lt. Britt's undaunted courage and prowess in arms were largely
responsible for repulsing a German counterattack which, if
successful, would have isolated his battalion and destroyed his
company.
Burke, Frank Rank and organization: First
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Nuremberg, Germany, 17 April 1945. Entered
service at: Jersey City, N.J. Born: 29 September 1918, New York,
N.Y. G.O. No.: 4, 9 January 1946. Citation: He fought with
extreme gallantry in the streets of war-torn Nuremberg, Germany,
where the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, was engaged in rooting
out fanatical defenders of the citadel of Nazism. As battalion
transportation officer he had gone forward to select a
motor-pool site, when, in a desire to perform more than his
assigned duties and participate in the fight, he advanced beyond
the lines of the forward riflemen. Detecting a group of about 10
Germans making preparations for a local counterattack, he rushed
back to a nearby American company, secured a light machinegun
with ammunition, and daringly opened fire on this superior
force, which deployed and returned his fire with machine
pistols, rifles, and rocket launchers. From another angle a
German machinegun tried to blast him from his emplacement, but
1st Lt. Burke killed this guncrew and drove off the survivors of
the unit he had originally attacked. Giving his next attention
to enemy infantrymen in ruined buildings, he picked up a rifle
dashed more than 100 yards through intense fire and engaged the
Germans from behind an abandoned tank. A sniper nearly hit him
from a cellar only 20 yards away, but he dispatched this
adversary by running directly to the basement window, firing a
full clip into it and then plunging through the darkened
aperture to complete the job. He withdrew from the fight only
long enough to replace his jammed rifle and secure grenades,
then re-engaged the Germans. Finding his shots ineffective, he
pulled the pins from 2 grenades, and, holding 1 in each hand,
rushed the enemy-held building, hurling his missiles just as the
enemy threw a potato masher grenade at him. In the triple
explosion the Germans were wiped out and 1st Lt. Burke was
dazed; but he emerged from the shower of debris that engulfed
him, recovered his rifle, and went on to kill 3 more Germans and
meet the charge of a machine pistolman, whom he cut down with 3
calmly delivered shots. He then retired toward the American
lines and there assisted a platoon in a raging, 30-minute fight
against formidable armed hostile forces. This enemy group was
repulsed, and the intrepid fighter moved to another friendly
group which broke the power of a German unit armed with a 20-mm.
gun in a fierce fire fight. In 4 hours of heroic action, 1st Lt.
Burke single-handedly killed 11 and wounded 3 enemy soldiers and
took a leading role in engagements in which an additional 29
enemy were killed or wounded. His extraordinary bravery and
superb fighting skill were an inspiration to his comrades, and
his entirely voluntary mission into extremely dangerous
territory hastened the fall of Nuremberg, in his battalion's
sector.
Choate, Clyde L.
601st Tank Destroyer Battalion: He
commanded a tank destroyer near Bruyeres, France, on 25 October
1944. Our infantry occupied a position on a wooded hill when, at
dusk, an enemy Mark IV tank and a company of infantry attacked,
threatening to overrun the American position and capture a
command post 400 yards to the rear. S/Sgt. Choate's tank
destroyer, the only weapon available to oppose the German armor,
was set afire by 2 hits. Ordering his men to abandon the
destroyer, S/Sgt. Choate reached comparative safety. He returned
to the burning destroyer to search for comrades possibly trapped
in the vehicle risking instant death in an explosion which was
imminent and braving enemy fire which ripped his jacket and tore
the helmet from his head. Completing the search and seeing the
tank and its supporting infantry overrunning our infantry in
their shallow foxholes, he secured a bazooka and ran after the
tank, dodging from tree to tree and passing through the enemy's
loose skirmish line. He fired a rocket from a distance of 20
yards, immobilizing the tank but leaving it able to spray the
area with cannon and machinegun fire. Running back to our
infantry through vicious fire, he secured another rocket, and,
advancing against a hail of machinegun and small-arms fire
reached a position 10 yards from the tank. His second shot
shattered the turret. With his pistol he killed 2 of the crew as
they emerged from the tank; and then running to the crippled
Mark IV while enemy infantry sniped at him, he dropped a grenade
inside the tank and completed its destruction. With their armor
gone, the enemy infantry became disorganized and was driven
back. S/Sgt. Choate's great daring in assaulting an enemy tank
single-handed, his determination to follow the vehicle after it
had passed his position, and his skill and crushing thoroughness
in the attack prevented the enemy from capturing a battalion
command post and turned a probable defeat into a tactical
success.
Christian, Herbert Rank and organization:
Private, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Valmontone, Italy, 2-3 June 1944. Entered service
at: Steubenville, Ohio. Birth: Byersville, Ohio. G.O. No.: 43,
30 May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 2-3 June
1944, at 1 a.m., Pvt. Christian elected to sacrifice his life in
order that his comrades might extricate themselves from an
ambush. Braving massed fire of about 60 riflemen, 3 machineguns,
and 3 tanks from positions only 30 yards distant, he stood erect
and signaled to the patrol to withdraw. The whole area was
brightly illuminated by enemy flares. Although his right leg was
severed above the knee by cannon fire, Pvt. Christian advanced
on his left knee and the bloody stump of his right thigh, firing
his submachinegun. Despite excruciating pain, Pvt. Christian
continued on his self-assigned mission. He succeeded in
distracting the enemy and enabled his 12 comrades to escape. He
killed 3 enemy soldiers almost at once. Leaving a trail of blood
behind him, he made his way forward 20 yards, halted at a point
within 10 yards of the enemy, and despite intense fire killed a
machine-pistol man. Reloading his weapon, he fired directly into
the enemy position. The enemy appeared enraged at the success of
his ruse, concentrated 20-mm. machinegun, machine-pistol and
rifle fire on him, yet he refused to seek cover. Maintaining his
erect position, Pvt. Christian fired his weapon to the very
last. Just as he emptied his submachinegun, the enemy bullets
found their mark and Pvt. Christian slumped forward dead. The
courage and spirit of self-sacrifice displayed by this soldier
were an inspiration to his comrades and are in keeping with the
highest traditions of the armed forces.
Connor, James P. Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S.
Army, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Cape
Cavalaire, southern France, 15 August 1944. Entered service at:
Wilmington, Del. Birth: Wilmington, Del. G.O. No.: 18, 15 March
1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 15 August
1944, Sgt. Connor, through sheer grit and determination, led his
platoon in clearing an enemy vastly superior in numbers and
firepower from strongly entrenched positions on Cape Cavalaire,
removing a grave enemy threat to his division during the
amphibious landing in southern France, and thereby insured safe
and uninterrupted landings for the huge volume of men and
materiel which followed. His battle patrol landed on "Red Beach"
with the mission of destroying the strongly fortified enemy
positions on Cape Cavalaire with utmost speed. From the
peninsula the enemy had commanding observation and seriously
menaced the vast landing operations taking place. Though knocked
down and seriously wounded in the neck by a hanging mine which
killed his platoon lieutenant, Sgt. Connor refused medical aid
and with his driving spirit practically carried the platoon
across several thousand yards of mine-saturated beach through
intense fire from mortars, 20-mm. flak guns, machineguns, and
snipers. En route to the Cape he personally shot and killed 2
snipers. The platoon sergeant was killed and Sgt. Connor became
platoon leader. Receiving a second wound, which lacerated his
shoulder and back, he again refused evacuation, expressing
determination to carry on until physically unable to continue.
He reassured and prodded the hesitating men of his decimated
platoon forward through almost impregnable mortar
concentrations. Again emphasizing the prevalent urgency of their
mission, he impelled his men toward a group of buildings
honeycombed with enemy snipers and machineguns. Here he received
his third grave wound, this time in the leg, felling him in his
tracks. Still resolved to carry on, he relinquished command only
after his attempts proved that it was physically impossible to
stand. Nevertheless, from his prone position, he gave the orders
and directed his men in assaulting the enemy. Infused with Sgt.
Connor's dogged determination, the platoon, though reduced to
less than one-third of its original 36 men, outflanked and
rushed the enemy with such furiousness that they killed 7,
captured 40, seized 3 machineguns and considerable other
materiel, and took all their assigned objectives, successfully
completing their mission. By his repeated examples of
tenaciousness and indomitable spirit Sgt Connor transmitted his
heroism to his men until they became a fighting team which could
not be stopped.
Craig, Robert Rank and organization: Second
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Favoratta, Sicily, 11 July 1943. Entered
service at: Toledo, Ohio. Birth: Scotland. G.O. No.: 41, 26 May
1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 11 July 1943
at Favoratta, Sicily. 2d Lt. Craig voluntarily undertook the
perilous task of locating and destroying a hidden enemy
machinegun which had halted the advance of his company. Attempts
by 3 other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in
failure, with each officer receiving wounds. 2d Lt. Craig
located the gun and snaked his way to a point within 35 yards of
the hostile position before being discovered. Charging headlong
into the furious automatic fire, he reached the gun, stood over
it, and killed the 3 crew members with his carbine. With this
obstacle removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly
thereafter while advancing down the forward slope of a ridge, 2d
Lt. Craig and his platoon, in a position devoid of cover and
concealment, encountered the fire of approximately 100 enemy
soldiers. Electing to sacrifice himself so that his platoon
might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to withdraw to the
cover of the crest while he drew the enemy fire to himself. With
no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he was
within 25 yards of them. Assuming a kneeling position, he killed
5 and wounded 3 enemy soldiers. While the hostile force
concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the
crest. 2d Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid
action so inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the
area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force.
Daly, Michael J
Rank and organization: Captain
(then Lieutenant), U.S. Army, Company A, 15th Infantry, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Nuremberg, Germany, 18 April
1945. Entered service at: Southport, Conn. Born: 15 September
1924, New York, N.Y. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation:
Early in the morning of 18 April 1945, he led his company
through the shell-battered, sniper-infested wreckage of
Nuremberg, Germany. When bl1stering machinegun fire caught his
unit in an exposed position, he ordered his men to take cover,
dashed forward alone, and, as bullets whined about him, shot the
3-man guncrew with his carbine. Continuing the advance at the
head of his company, he located an enemy patrol armed with
rocket launchers which threatened friendly armor. He again went
forward alone, secured a vantage point and opened fire on the
Germans. Immediately he became the target for concentrated
machine pistol and rocket fire, which blasted the rubble about
him. Calmly, he continued to shoot at the patrol until he had
killed all 6 enemy infantrymen. Continuing boldly far in front
of his company, he entered a park, where as his men advanced, a
German machinegun opened up on them without warning. With his
carbine, he killed the gunner; and then, from a completely
exposed position, he directed machinegun fire on the remainder
of the crew until all were dead. In a final duel, he wiped out a
third machinegun emplacement with rifle fire at a range of 10
yards. By fearlessly engaging in 4 single-handed fire fights
with a desperate, powerfully armed enemy, Lt. Daly, voluntarily
taking all major risks himself and protecting his men at every
opportunity, killed 15 Germans, silenced 3 enemy machineguns and
wiped out an entire enemy patrol. His heroism during the lone
bitter struggle with fanatical enemy forces was an inspiration
to the valiant Americans who took Nuremberg.
Davila, Rudolph B. Staff Sergeant Rudolph B. Davila
distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action, on 28
May 1944, near Artena, Italy. During the offensive which broke
through the German mountain strongholds surrounding the Anzio
beachhead, Staff Sergeant Davila risked death to provide heavy
weapons support for a beleaguered rifle company. Caught on an
exposed hillside by heavy, grazing fire from a well-entrenched
German force, his machine gunners were reluctant to risk putting
their guns into action. Crawling fifty yards to the nearest
machine gun, Staff Sergeant Davila set it up alone and opened
fire on the enemy. In order to observe the effect of his fire,
Sergeant Davila fired from the kneeling position, ignoring the
enemy fire that struck the tripod and passed between his legs.
Ordering a gunner to take over, he crawled forward to a vantage
point and directed the firefight with hand and arm signals until
both hostile machine guns were silenced. Bringing his three
remaining machine guns into action, he drove the enemy to a
reserve position two hundred yards to the rear. When he received
a painful wound in the leg, he dashed to a burned tank and,
despite the crash of bullets on the hull, engaged a second enemy
force from the tanks turret. Dismounting, he advanced 130 yards
in short rushes, crawled 20 yards and charged into an enemy-held
house to eliminate the defending force of five with a hand
grenade and rifle fire. Climbing to the attic, he straddled a
large shell hole in the wall and opened fire on the enemy.
Although the walls of the house were crumbling, he continued to
fire until he had destroyed two more machine guns. His intrepid
actions brought desperately needed heavy weapons support to a
hard-pressed rifle company and silenced four machine gunners,
which forced the enemy to abandon their prepared positions.
Staff Sergeant Davilas extraordinary heroism and devotion to
duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military
service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the
United States Army.
Dunham, Russell E. Rank and organization:
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kayserberg, France, 8
January 1945. Entered service at: Brighton Ill. Born: 23
February 1920, East Carondelet, Ill. G.O. No.: 37, 11 May 1945.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of
life above and beyond the call of duty. At about 1430 hours on 8
January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kayserberg,
France, T/Sgt. Dunham single-handedly assaulted 3 enemy
machineguns. Wearing a white robe made of a mattress cover,
carrying 12 carbine magazines and with a dozen hand grenades
snagged in his belt, suspenders, and buttonholes, T/Sgt. Dunham
advanced in the attack up a snow-covered hill under fire from 2
machineguns and supporting riflemen. His platoon 35 yards behind
him, T/Sgt. Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct fire
toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machinegun.
As he jumped to his feet 10 yards from the gun and charged
forward, machinegun fire tore through his camouflage robe and a
rifle bullet seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him
spinning 15 yards down hill into the snow. When the indomitable
sergeant sprang to his feet to renew his 1-man assault, a German
egg grenade landed beside him. He kicked it aside, and as it
exploded 5 yards away, shot and killed the German machinegunner
and assistant gunner. His carbine empty, he jumped into the
emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun crew by
the collar. Although his back wound was causing him excruciating
pain and blood was seeping through his white coat, T/Sgt. Dunham
proceeded 50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire
to attack the second machinegun. Twenty-five yards from the
emplacement he hurled 2 grenades, destroying the gun and its
crew; then fired down into the supporting foxholes with his
carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen. Although
his coat was so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a
conspicuous target against the white landscape, T/Sgt. Dunham
again advanced ahead of his platoon in an assault on enemy
positions farther up the hill. Coming under machinegun fire from
65 yards to his front, while rifle grenades exploded 10 yards
from his position, he hit the ground and crawled forward. At 15
yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered a few paces toward
the timbered machinegun emplacement and killed the crew with
hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range, but
missed him. After killing the rifleman, T/Sgt. Dunham drove
others from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire.
Killing 9 Germans--wounding 7 and capturing 2--firing about 175
rounds of carbine ammunition, and expending 11 grenades, T/Sgt.
Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded a spectacular and
successful diversionary attack.
Dutko, John W. Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near
Ponte Rotto, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Riverside,
N.J. Birth: Dilltown, Pa. G.O. No.: 80, 5 October 1944.
citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of
life above and beyond the call of duty, on 23 May 1944, near
Ponte Rotto, Italy. Pfc. Dutko left the cover of an abandoned
enemy trench at the height of an artillery concentration in a
single-handed attack upon 3 machineguns and an 88mm mobile gun.
Despite the intense fire of these 4 weapons which were aimed
directly at him, Pfc. Dutko ran 10.0 yards through the impact
area, paused momentarily in a shell crater, and then continued
his l-man assault. Although machinegun bullets kicked up the
dirt at his heels, and 88mm shells exploded within 30 yards of
him, Pfc. Dutko nevertheless made his way to a point within 30
yards of the first enemy machinegun and killed both gunners with
a hand grenade. Although the second machinegun wounded him,
knocking him to the ground, Pfc. Dutko regained his feet and
advanced on the 88mm. gun, firing his Browning automatic rifle
from the hip. When he came within 10 yards of this weapon he
killed its 5-man crew with 1 long burst of fire. Wheeling on the
machinegun which had wounded him, Pfc. Dutko killed the gunner
and his assistant. The third German machinegun fired on Pfc.
Dutko from a position 20 yards distant wounding him a second
time as he proceeded toward the enemy weapon in a half run. He
killed both members of its crew with a single burst from his
Browning automatic rifle, continued toward the gun and died, his
body falling across the dead German crew.
Gibson, Eric G.
Rank and organization.
Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Isola Bella, Italy, 28 January 1944. Entered
service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth: Nysund, Sweden. G.O. No.: 74,
11 September 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
On 28 January 1944, near Isola Bella, Italy, Tech. 5th Grade
Gibson, company cook, led a squad of replacements through their
initial baptism of fire, destroyed four enemy positions, killed
5 and captured 2 German soldiers, and secured the left flank of
his company during an attack on a strongpoint. Placing himself
50 yards in front of his new men, Gibson advanced down the wide
stream ditch known as the Fossa Femminamorta, keeping pace with
the advance of his company. An enemy soldier allowed Tech. 5th
Grade Gibson to come within 20 yards of his concealed position
and then opened fire on him with a machine pistol. Despite the
stream of automatic fire which barely missed him, Gibson charged
the position, firing his submachine gun every few steps.
Reaching the position, Gibson fired pointblank at his opponent,
killing him. An artillery concentration fell in and around the
ditch; the concussion from one shell knocked him flat. As he got
to his feet Gibson was fired on by two soldiers armed with a
machine pistol and a rifle from a position only 75 yards
distant. Gibson immediately raced toward the foe. Halfway to the
position a machinegun opened fire on him. Bullets came within
inches of his body, yet Gibson never paused in his forward
movement. He killed one and captured the other soldier. Shortly
after, when he was fired upon by a heavy machinegun 200 yards
down the ditch, Gibson crawled back to his squad and ordered it
to lay down a base of fire while he flanked the emplacement.
Despite all warning, Gibson crawled 125 yards through an
artillery concentration and the cross fire of 2 machineguns
which showered dirt over his body, threw 2 hand grenades into
the emplacement and charged it with his submachine gun, killing
2 of the enemy and capturing a third. Before leading his men
around a bend in the stream ditch, Gibson went forward alone to
reconnoiter. Hearing an exchange of machine pistol and
submachine gun fire, Gibson's squad went forward to find that
its leader had run 35 yards toward an outpost, killed the
machine pistol man, and had himself been killed while firing at
the Germans.
Harris, James L.
756th Tank
Battalion: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of
life above and beyond the call of duty on 7 October 1944, in
Vagney, France. At 9 p.m. an enemy raiding party, comprising a
tank and 2 platoons of infantry, infiltrated through the lines
under cover of mist and darkness and attacked an infantry
battalion command post with hand grenades, retiring a short
distance to an ambush position on hearing the approach of the
M-4 tank commanded by 2d Lt. Harris. Realizing the need for bold
aggressive action, 2d Lt. Harris ordered his tank to halt while
he proceeded on foot, fully 10 yards ahead of his 6-man patrol
and armed only with a service pistol, to probe the darkness for
the enemy. Although struck down and mortally wounded by
machinegun bullets which penetrated his solar plexus, he crawled
back to his tank, leaving a trail of blood behind him, and, too
weak to climb inside it, issued fire orders while lying on the
road between the 2 contending armored vehicles. Although the
tank which he commanded was destroyed in the course of the fire
fight, he stood the enemy off until friendly tanks, preparing to
come to his aid, caused the enemy to withdraw and thereby lose
an opportunity to kill or capture the entire battalion command
personnel. Suffering a second wound, which severed his leg at
the hip, in the course of this tank duel, 2d Lt. Harris refused
aid until after a wounded member of his crew had been carried to
safety. He died before he could be given medical attention.
Hawks, Lloyd C. Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 30th Infantry, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 30
January 1944. Entered service at: Park Rapids, Minn. Born: 13
January 1911, Becker, Minn. G.O. No.: 5, 15 January 1945.
Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above
and beyond the call of duty. On 30 January 1944, at 3 p.m., near
Carano, Italy, Pfc. Hawks braved an enemy counterattack in order
to rescue 2 wounded men who, unable to move, were Lying in an
exposed position within 30 yards of the enemy. Two riflemen,
attempting the rescue, had been forced to return to their
fighting holes by extremely severe enemy machinegun fire, after
crawling only 10 yards toward the casualties. An aid man, whom
the enemy could plainly identify as such, had been critically
wounded in a similar attempt. Pfc. Hawks, nevertheless, crawled
50 yards through a veritable hail of machinegun bullets and
flying mortar fragments to a small ditch, administered first aid
to his fellow aid man who had sought cover therein, and
continued toward the 2 wounded men 50 yards distant. An enemy
machinegun bullet penetrated his helmet, knocking it from his
head, momentarily stunning him. Thirteen bullets passed through
his helmet as it lay on the ground within 6 inches of his body.
Pfc. Hawks, crawled to the casualties, administered first aid to
the more seriously wounded man and dragged him to a covered
position 25 yards distant. Despite continuous automatic fire
from positions only 30 yards away and shells which exploded
within 25 yards, Pfc. Hawks returned to the second man and
administered first aid to him. As he raised himself to obtain
bandages from his medical kit his right hip was shattered by a
burst of machinegun fire and a second burst splintered his left
forearm. Displaying dogged determination and extreme
self-control, Pfc. Hawks, despite severe pain and his dangling
left arm, completed the task of bandaging the remaining casualty
and with superhuman effort dragged him to the same depression to
which he had brought the first man. Finding insufficient cover
for 3 men at this point, Pfc. Hawks crawled 75 yards in an
effort to regain his company, reaching the ditch in which his
fellow aid man was lying.
HUFF, PAUL B. Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S.
Army, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 8
February 1944 Entered service at: Cleveland, Tenn. G.O. No.: 41, 26 May 1944 Citation: For conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of
duty, in action on 8 February 1944, near Carano, Italy. Cpl.
Huff volunteered to lead a 6-man patrol with the mission of
determining the location and strength of an enemy unit which was
delivering fire on the exposed right flank of his company. The
terrain over which he had to travel consisted of exposed,
rolling ground, affording the enemy excellent visibility. As the
patrol advanced, its members were subjected to small arms and
machinegun fire and a concentration of mortar fire, shells
bursting within 5 to 10 yards of them and bullets striking the
ground at their feet. Moving ahead of his patrol, Cpl. Huff drew
fire from 3 enemy machineguns and a 20mm. weapon. Realizing the
danger confronting his patrol, he advanced alone under deadly
fire through a minefield and arrived at a point within 75 yards
of the nearest machinegun position. Under direct fire from the
rear machinegun, he crawled the remaining 75 yards to the
closest emplacement, killed the crew with his submachine gun and
destroyed the gun. During this act he fired from a kneeling
position which drew fire from other positions, enabling him to
estimate correctly the strength and location of the enemy. Still
under concentrated fire, he returned to his patrol and led his
men to safety. As a result of the information he gained, a
patrol in strength sent out that afternoon, 1 group under the
leadership of Cpl. Huff, succeeded in routing an enemy company
of 125 men, killing 27 Germans and capturing 21 others, with a
loss of only 3 patrol members. Cpl. Huff's intrepid leadership
and daring combat skill reflect the finest traditions of the
American infantryman.
Johnson, Elden H. Rank and organization:
Private, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Valmontone, Italy, 3 June 1944. Entered service
at: East Weymouth, Mass. Birth: Bivalue, N.J. G.O. No.: 38, 16
May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Johnson
elected to sacrifice his life in order that his comrades might
extricate themselves from an ambush. Braving the massed fire of
about 60 riflemen, 3 machineguns, and 3 tanks from positions
only 25 yards distant, he stood erect and signaled his patrol
leader to withdraw. The whole area was brightly illuminated by
enemy flares. Then, despite 20mm. machineguns, machine pistol,
and rifle fire directed at him, Pvt. Johnson advanced beyond the
enemy in a slow deliberate walk. Firing his automatic rifle from
the hip, he succeeded in distracting the enemy and enabled his
12 comrades to escape. Advancing to within 5 yards of a
machinegun, emptying his weapon, Pvt. Johnson killed its crew.
Standing in full view of the enemy he reloaded and turned on the
riflemen to the left, firing directly into their positions. He
either killed or wounded 4 of them. A burst of machinegun fire
tore into Pvt. Johnson and he dropped to his knees. Fighting to
the very last, he steadied himself on his knees and sent a final
burst of fire crashing into another German. With that he slumped
forward dead. Pvt. Johnson had willingly given his life in order
that his comrades might live. These acts on the part of Pvt.
Johnson were an inspiration to the entire command and are in
keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces.
Kandle, Victor L. Rank and organization: First
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near La Forge, France, 9 October 1944. Entered
service at: Redwood City, Calif. Birth: Roy, Wash. G.O. No.: 37,
11 May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 9
October 1944, at about noon, near La Forge, France, 1st Lt.
Kandle, while leading a reconnaissance patrol into enemy
territory, engaged in a duel at pointblank range with a German
field officer and killed him. Having already taken 5 enemy
prisoners that morning, he led a skeleton platoon of 16 men,
reinforced with a light machinegun squad, through fog and over
precipitous mountain terrain to fall on the rear of a German
quarry stronghold which had checked the advance of an infantry
battalion for 2 days. Rushing forward, several yards ahead of
his assault elements, 1st Lt. Kandle fought his way into the
heart of the enemy strongpoint, and, by his boldness and
audacity, forced the Germans to surrender. Harassed by
machinegun fire from a position which he had bypassed in the
dense fog, he moved to within 15 yards of the enemy, killed a
German machinegunner with accurate rifle fire and led his men in
the destruction of another machinegun crew and its rifle
security elements. Finally, he led his small force against a
fortified house held by 2 German officers and 30 enlisted men.
After establishing a base of fire, he rushed forward alone
through an open clearing in full view of the enemy, smashed
through a barricaded door, and forced all 32 Germans to
surrender. His intrepidity and bold leadership resulted in the
capture or killing of 3 enemy officers and 54 enlisted men, the
destruction of 3 enemy strongpoints, and the seizure of enemy
positions which had halted a battalion attack.
Kefurt, Gus Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant,
U.S. Army, Company K, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Bennwihr, France, 23-24 December 1944. Entered
service at: Youngstown, Ohio. Birth: Greenville, Pa. Citation:
He distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 23 and 24
December 1944, near Bennwihr, France. Early in the attack S/Sgt.
Kefurt jumped through an opening in a wall to be confronted by
about 15 Germans. Although outnumbered he opened fire, killing
10 and capturing the others. During a seesaw battle which
developed he effectively adjusted artillery fire on an enemy
tank close to his position although exposed to small arms fire.
When night fell he maintained a 3-man outpost in the center of
the town in the middle of the German positions and successfully
fought off several hostile patrols attempting to penetrate our
lines. Assuming command of his platoon the following morning he
led it in hand-to-hand fighting through the town until blocked
by a tank. Using rifle grenades he forced surrender of its crew
and some supporting infantry. He then continued his attack from
house to house against heavy machinegun and rifle fire.
Advancing against a strongpoint that was holding up the company,
his platoon was subjected to a strong counterattack and
infiltration to its rear. Suffering heavy casualties in their
exposed position the men remained there due to S/Sgt. Kefurt's
personal example of bravery, determination and leadership. He
constantly exposed himself to fire by going from man to man to
direct fire. During this time he killed approximately 15 of the
enemy at close range. Although severely wounded in the leg he
refused first aid and immediately resumed fighting. When the
forces to his rear were pushed back 3 hours later, he refused to
be evacuated, but, during several more counterattacks moved
painfully about under intense small arms and mortar fire,
stiffening the resistance of his platoon by encouraging
individual men and by his own fire until he was killed. As a
result of S/Sgt. Kefurt's gallantry the position was maintained.
Kessler,
Patrick L. Rank and
organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company K, 30th
Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Ponte
Rotto, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Middletown, Ohio.
Birth: Middletown, Ohio. G.O. No.: 1, 4 January 1945. Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above
and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Kessler, acting without
orders, raced 50 yards through a hail of machinegun fire, which
had killed 5 of his comrades and halted the advance of his
company, in order to form an assault group to destroy the
machinegun. Ordering 3 men to act as a base of fire, he left the
cover of a ditch and snaked his way to a point within 50 yards
of the enemy machinegun before he was discovered, whereupon he
plunged headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire.
Reaching a spot within 6 feet of the emplacement he stood over
it and killed both the gunner and his assistant, jumped into the
gun position, overpowered and captured a third German after a
short struggle. The remaining member of the crew escaped, but
Pfc. Kessler wounded him as he ran. While taking his prisoner to
the rear, this soldier saw 2 of his comrades killed as they
assaulted an enemy strongpoint, fire from which had already
killed 10 men in the company. Turning his prisoner over to
another man, Pfc. Kessler crawled 35 yards to the side of 1 of
the casualties, relieved him of his BAR and ammunition and
continued on toward the strongpoint, 125 yards distant. Although
2 machineguns concentrated their fire directly on him and shells
exploded within 10 yards, bowling him over, Pfc. Kessler crawled
75 yards, passing through an antipersonnel minefield to a point
within 50 yards of the enemy and engaged the machineguns in a
duel. When an artillery shell burst within a few feet of him, he
left the cover of a ditch and advanced upon the position in a
slow walk, firing his BAR from the hip. Although the enemy
poured heavy machinegun and small arms fire at him, Pfc. Kessler
succeeded in reaching the edge of their position, killed the
gunners, and captured 13 Germans. Then, despite continuous
shelling, he started to the rear. After going 25 yards, Pfc.
Kessler was fired upon by 2 snipers only 100 yards away. Several
of his prisoners took advantage of this opportunity and
attempted to escape; however, Pfc. Kessler hit the ground, fired
on either flank of his prisoners, forcing them to cover, and
then engaged the 2 snipers in a fire fight, and captured them.
With this last threat removed, Company K continued its advance,
capturing its objective without further opposition. Pfc. Kessler
was killed in a subsequent action.
Knappenberger,
Alton W. Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Litoria, Italy, 1
February 1944.
Entered service at: Spring Mount, PA. Birth: cooperstown, PA G.O
No 41, 26 May1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of
duty in action involving actual conflict with the enemy, on 1
February, 1944 near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy. when a havy
Geman counterattack was launched against his battalion, Pfc.
Knappenberger crawled to his automatic rifle. An enemy
machinegun 85 yards away opened fire, and bullets struck within
6 inches of him. Rising to a kneeling position, Pfc.
Knappenbergeropened fire on the hostile crew, and knocked out
the gun an, killed 2 members of the crew and wounded the third.
while he fired at this hostile position, 2 Germans crawled to a
ppoint within 20 yards of the knoll and threw potato-maher
grenades at him, but Pfc Knappenberger killed them both with one
burst of from his automatic rifle. Later a second machinegun
opened fire upon his exposed position from a distance of 100
yards and this weapon also was silenced by his well-aimed shots.
Shortly thereafter, anenemy 20mm antiaircraft gun directed fire
at him, and again Pfc Knappenberger returned fire to wound 1
member of the hostile crew. Under tank and artillery shellfire,
with shells bursting within 15 yards of him, he held his
precarious position and fired at all enemy infantrymen armed
with machine pistols and machindguns which he could locte. when
hi ammunition supply became exhausted, he crawled 15 yards
forward thru steady machinegu fire, removed rifle clips from the
belt of a casualty, returned to his position and resumed firing
to repel an assaulting German platoon armed with automatic
weapons. finally, his ammunition supply being completely
exhausted, he rejoind his company. Pfc Knappenberger's intrepid
action disrupted the enemy attack for ovr 2 hours.
Leonard, Sergeant William F.
Private First Class William F. Leonard
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Squad Leader in
Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during
combat operations against an armed enemy near St. Die, France on
November 7, 1944. Private First Class Leonard’s platoon was
reduced to eight men as a result of blistering artillery,
mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire. Private First Class Leonard
led the survivors in an assault over a hill covered by trees and
shrubs which the enemy continuously swept with automatic weapons
fire. Ignoring bullets which pierced his pack, Private First
Class Leonard killed two snipers at ranges of fifty and
seventy-five yards and engaged and destroyed a machinegun nest
with grenades, killing its two-man crew. Though momentarily
stunned by an exploding bazooka shell, Private First Class
Leonard relentlessly advanced, ultimately knocking out a second
machinegun nest and capturing the roadblock objective. Private
First Class Leonard’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness
above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the
highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit
upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Lindstrom, Floyd K. Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near
Mignano, Italy, 11 November 1943. Entered service at: Colorado
Springs, Colo. Birth: Holdredge, Nebr. G.O. No.: 32, 20 April
1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 11 November
1943, this soldier's platoon was furnishing machinegun support
for a rifle company attacking a hill near Mignano, Italy, when
the enemy counterattacked, forcing the riflemen and half the
machinegun platoon to retire to a defensive position. Pfc.
Lindstrom saw that his small section was alone and outnumbered 5
to 1, yet he immediately deployed the few remaining men into
position and opened fire with his single gun. The enemy centered
fire on him with machinegun, machine pistols, and grenades.
Unable to knock out the enemy nest from his original position,
Pfc. Lindstrom picked up his own heavy machinegun and staggered
15 yards up the barren, rocky hillside to a new position,
completely ignoring enemy small arms fire which was striking all
around him. From this new site, only 10 yards from the enemy
machinegun, he engaged it in an intense duel. Realizing that he
could not hit the hostile gunners because they were behind a
large rock, he charged uphill under a steady stream of fire,
killed both gunners with his pistol and dragged their gun down
to his own men, directing them to employ it against the enemy.
Disregarding heavy rifle fire, he returned to the enemy
machinegun nest for 2 boxes of ammunition, came back and resumed
withering fire from his own gun. His spectacular performance
completely broke up the German counterattack. Pfc. Lindstrom
demonstrated aggressive spirit and complete fearlessness in the
face of almost certain death.
Maxwell, Robert D. Rank and organization:
Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Besancon, France, 7 September
1944. Entered service at: Larimer County, Colo. Birth: Boise,
Idaho. G.O. No.: 24, 6 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the
call of duty on 7 September 1944, near Besancon, France.
Technician 5th Grade Maxwell and 3 other soldiers, armed only
with .45 caliber automatic pistols, defended the battalion
observation post against an overwhelming onslaught by enemy
infantrymen in approximately platoon strength, supported by
20mm. flak and machinegun fire, who had infiltrated through the
battalion's forward companies and were attacking the observation
post with machinegun, machine pistol, and grenade fire at ranges
as close as 10 yards. Despite a hail of fire from automatic
weapons and grenade launchers, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell
aggressively fought off advancing enemy elements and, by his
calmness, tenacity, and fortitude, inspired his fellows to
continue the unequal struggle. When an enemy hand grenade was
thrown in the midst of his squad, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell
unhesitatingly hurled himself squarely upon it, using his
blanket and his unprotected body to absorb the full force of the
explosion. This act of instantaneous heroism permanently maimed
Technician 5th Grade Maxwell, but saved the lives of his
comrades in arms and facilitated maintenance of vital military
communications during the temporary withdrawal of the
battalion's forward headquarters.
Merrell, Joseph F. Rank and organization:
Private, U.S. Army, Company I, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Lohe, Germany, 18 April 1945.
Entered service at: Staten Island, N.Y. Birth: Staten Island,
N.Y. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946. Citation: He made a
gallant, 1-man attack against vastly superior enemy forces near
Lohe, Germany. His unit, attempting a quick conquest of hostile
hill positions that would open the route to Nuremberg before the
enemy could organize his defense of that city, was pinned down
by brutal fire from rifles, machine pistols, and 2 heavy
machineguns. Entirely on his own initiative, Pvt. Merrell began
a single-handed assault. He ran 100 yards through concentrated
fire, barely escaping death at each stride, and at pointblank
range engaged 4 German machine pistolmen with his rifle, killing
all of them while their bullets ripped his uniform. As he
started forward again, his rifle was smashed by a sniper's
bullet, leaving him armed only with 3 grenades. But he did not
hesitate. He zigzagged 200 yards through a hail of bullets to
within 10 yards of the first machinegun, where he hurled 2
grenades and then rushed the position ready to fight with his
bare hands if necessary. In the emplacement he seized a Luger
pistol and killed what Germans had survived the grenade blast.
Rearmed, he crawled toward the second machinegun located 30
yards away, killing 4 Germans in camouflaged foxholes on the
way, but himself receiving a critical wound in the abdomen. And
yet he went on, staggering, bleeding, disregarding bullets which
tore through the folds of his clothing and glanced off his
helmet. He threw his last grenade into the machinegun nest and
stumbled on to wipe out the crew. He had completed this
self-appointed task when a machine pistol burst killed him
instantly. In his spectacular 1-man attack Pvt. Merrell killed 6
Germans in the first machinegun emplacement, 7 in the next, and
an additional 10 infantrymen who were astride his path to the
weapons which would have decimated his unit had he not assumed
the burden of the assault and stormed the enemy positions with
utter fearlessness, intrepidity of the highest order, and a
willingness to sacrifice his own life so that his comrades could
go on to victory.
Messerschmidt, Harold O. Rank and organization:
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company L, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Radden, France, 17 September
1944. Entered service at: Chester, Pa. Birth: Grier City, Pa.
G.O. No.: 71, 17 July 1946. Citation: He displayed conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.
Braving machinegun, machine pistol, and rifle fire, he moved
fearlessly and calmly from man to man along his 40-yard squad
front, encouraging each to hold against the overwhelming assault
of a fanatical foe surging up the hillside. Knocked to the
ground by a burst from an enemy automatic weapon, he immediately
jumped to his feet, and ignoring his grave wounds, fired his
submachine gun at the enemy that was now upon them, killing 5
and wounding many others before his ammunition was spent.
Virtually surrounded by a frenzied foe and all of his squad now
casualties, he elected to fight alone, using his empty
submachine gun as a bludgeon against his assailants. Spotting 1
of the enemy about to kill a wounded comrade, he felled the
German with a blow of his weapon. Seeing friendly reinforcements
running up the hill, he continued furiously to wield his empty
gun against the foe in a new attack, and it was thus that he
made the supreme sacrifice. Sgt. Messerschmidt's sustained
heroism in hand-to-hand combat with superior enemy forces was in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service .
Mills, James H. Rank and organization:
Private, U.S. Army, Company F, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24
May 1944. Entered service at: Fort Meade, Fla. Birth: Fort
Meade, Fla. G.O. No.: 87, 14 November 1944. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Mills, undergoing his baptism of
fire, preceded his platoon down a draw to reach a position from
which an attack could be launched against a heavily fortified
strongpoint. After advancing about 300 yards, Pvt. Mills was
fired on by a machinegun only S yards distant. He killed the
gunner with 1 shot and forced the surrender of the assistant
gunner. Continuing his advance, he saw a German soldier in a
camouflaged position behind a large bush pulling the pin of a
potato-masher grenade. Covering the German with his rifle, Pvt.
Mills forced him to drop the grenade and captured him. When
another enemy soldier attempted to throw a hand grenade into the
draw, Pvt. Mills killed him with 1 shot. Brought under fire by a
machinegun, 2 machine pistols, and 3 rifles at a range of only
50 feet, he charged headlong into the furious chain of automatic
fire shooting his M 1 from the hip. The enemy was completely
demoralized by Pvt. Mills' daring charge, and when he reached a
point within 10 feet of their position, all 6 surrendered. As he
neared the end of the draw, Pvt. Mills was brought under fire by
a machinegunner 20 yards distant. Despite the fact that he had
absolutely no cover, Pvt. Mills killed the gunner with 1 shot.
Two enemy soldiers near the machinegunner fired wildly at Pvt.
Mills and then fled. Pvt. Mills fired twice, killing 1 of the
enemy. Continuing on to the position, he captured a fourth
soldier. When it became apparent that an assault on the
strongpoint would in all probability cause heavy casualties on
the platoon, Pvt. Mills volunteered to cover the advance down a
shallow ditch to a point within 50 yards of the objective.
Standing on the bank in full view of the enemy less than 100
yards away, he shouted and fired his rifle directly into the
position. His ruse worked exactly as planned. The enemy centered
his fire on Pvt. Mills. Tracers passed within inches of his
body, rifle and machine pistol bullets ricocheted off the rocks
at his feet. Yet he stood there firing until his rifle was
empty. Intent on covering the movement of his platoon, Pvt.
Mills jumped into the draw, reloaded his weapon, climbed out
again, and continued to lay down a base of fire. Repeating this
action 4 times, he enabled his platoon to reach the designated
spot undiscovered, from which position it assaulted and
overwhelmed the enemy, capturing 22 Germans and taking the
objective without casualties.
Murphy, Audie L.
Rank and organization: Second
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January
1945. Entered service at: Dallas, Tex. Birth: Hunt County, near
Kingston, Tex. G.O. No.. 65, 9 August 1945. Citation 2d Lt.
Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and
waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to
prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his
command post and continued to give fire directions to the
artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank
destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew
withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct
artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy
infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt.
Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in
danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber
machinegun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German
fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans
and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks,
losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the
Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy,
but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad
which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank.
Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by
his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued
the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He
then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and
organized the company in a counterattack which forced the
Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out
many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt.
Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of
ground saved his company from possible encirclement and
destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the
enemy's objective
Murray, Charles P. Jr.
Rank and organization: First
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Kaysersberg, France, 16 December
1944. Entered service at: Wilmington, N.C. Birth: Baltimore, Md.
G.O. No.: 63, 1 August 1945. Citation: For commanding Company C,
30th Infantry, displaying supreme courage and heroic initiative
near Kaysersberg, France, on 16 December 1944, while leading a
reinforced platoon into enemy territory. Descending into a
valley beneath hilltop positions held by our troops, he observed
a force of 200 Germans pouring deadly mortar, bazooka,
machinegun, and small arms fire into an American battalion
occupying the crest of the ridge. The enemy's position in a
sunken road, though hidden from the ridge, was open to a flank
attack by 1st Lt. Murray's patrol but he hesitated to commit so
small a force to battle with the superior and strongly disposed
enemy. Crawling out ahead of his troops to a vantage point, he
called by radio for artillery fire. His shells bracketed the
German force, but when he was about to correct the range his
radio went dead. He returned to his patrol, secured grenades and
a rifle to launch them and went back to his self-appointed
outpost. His first shots disclosed his position; the enemy
directed heavy fire against him as he methodically fired his
missiles into the narrow defile. Again he returned to his
patrol. With an automatic rifle and ammunition, he once more
moved to his exposed position. Burst after burst he fired into
the enemy, killing 20, wounding many others, and completely
disorganizing its ranks, which began to withdraw. He prevented
the removal of 3 German mortars by knocking out a truck. By that
time a mortar had been brought to his support. 1st Lt. Murray
directed fire of this weapon, causing further casualties and
confusion in the German ranks. Calling on his patrol to follow,
he then moved out toward his original objective, possession of a
bridge and construction of a roadblock. He captured 10 Germans
in foxholes. An eleventh, while pretending to surrender, threw a
grenade which knocked him to the ground, inflicting 8 wounds.
Though suffering and bleeding profusely, he refused to return to
the rear until he had chosen the spot for the block and had seen
his men correctly deployed. By his single-handed attack on an
overwhelming force and by his intrepid and heroic fighting, 1st
Lt. Murray stopped a counterattack, established an advance
position against formidable odds, and provided an inspiring
example for the men of his command.
Olson, Arlo L. Rank and organization:
Captain, U.S. Army, 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place
and date: Crossing of the Volturno River, Italy, 13 October
1943. Entered service at: Toronto, S. Dak. Birth: Greenville,
lowa. G.O. No.: 71, 31 August 1944. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty. On 13 October 1943, when the drive
across the Volturno River began, Capt. Olson and his company
spearheaded the advance of the regiment through 30 miles of
mountainous enemy territory in 13 days. Placing himself at the
head of his men, Capt. Olson waded into the chest-deep water of
the raging Volturno River and despite pointblank machine-gun
fire aimed directly at him made his way to the opposite bank and
threw 2 handgrenades into the gun position, killing the crew.
When an enemy machinegun 150 yards distant opened fire on his
company, Capt. Olson advanced upon the position in a slow,
deliberate walk. Although 5 German soldiers threw handgrenades
at him from a range of 5 yards, Capt. Olson dispatched them all,
picked up a machine pistol and continued toward the enemy.
Advancing to within 15 yards of the position he shot it out with
the foe, killing 9 and seizing the post. Throughout the next 13
days Capt. Olson led combat patrols, acted as company No. 1
scout and maintained unbroken contact with the enemy. On 27
October 1943, Capt. Olson conducted a platoon in attack on a
strongpoint, crawling to within 25 yards of the enemy and then
charging the position. Despite continuous machinegun fire which
barely missed him, Capt. Olson made his way to the gun and
killed the crew with his pistol. When the men saw their leader
make this desperate attack they followed him and overran the
position. Continuing the advance, Capt. Olson led his company to
the next objective at the summit of Monte San Nicola. Although
the company to his right was forced to take cover from the
furious automatic and small arms fire, which was directed upon
him and his men with equal intensity, Capt. Olson waved his
company into a skirmish line and despite the fire of a
machinegun which singled him out as its sole target led the
assault which drove the enemy away. While making a
reconnaissance for defensive positions, Capt. Olson was fatally
wounded. Ignoring his severe pain, this intrepid officer
completed his reconnaissance, Supervised the location of his men
in the best defense positions, refused medical aid until all of
his men had been cared for, and died as he was being carried
down the mountain.
Olson, Truman O. Rank and organization:
Sergeant U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy 30-31, January 1944. Entered service at:
Cambridge, Wis. Birth: Christiana, wis G.O. No 6 24, Jan 1945 1944. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty. Sgt Olson, a light machine gunner,
elected to sacrifice his life to save his company from
annihilation. On the night of 30, January 1944, after a 16-hour
assault on entrenched enemy positions in the course of which
over one-third of Company B became casualties, the surviviors
dug in behind a horshoe elevation, placing Sgt. Olson and his
crew, with the 1 available machingun, forwardof their lines and
in and exposed position to bear the brunt of the expected German
counterattack. Altho he had been fighting without respite, Sgt
Olson stuck grimly to his post all night while his guncrew was
cut down, 1 by 1, by accurate and overwhelming enemy fire. Weary
from over 24 hours of continuous battle and suffering from an
arm wound, received during the night engagement, Sgt. Olson
manned his gun alone, meeting the full force of an all-out enemy
assault by approximately 200 men supported by mortar and
machinegun fire which the Germans launched at daybreak on the
morning of 31, January. After 30 minutes of fighting, Sgt Olson
was mortally wounded, yet knowing that his only weapons stood
bewtween his company and complete destruction, he refused
evacuation. For an hour and a half after receiving his second
and fatal wound he continued to fire his machinegun, killing at
least 20 of the enemy, wounding many more, and forcing the
assaulting Geran elements to withdraw.
Peden, Forrest E. Rank and organization:
Technician 5th Grade, U.S. Army, Battery C, 10th Field Artillery
Battalion, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Biesheim,
France, 3 February 1945. Entered service at: Wathena, Kans.
Birth: St. Joseph, Mo. G.O. No.: 18, 13 February 1946. Citation:
He was a forward artillery observer when the group of about 45
infantrymen with whom he was advancing was ambushed in the
uncertain light of a waning moon. Enemy forces outnumbering the
Americans by 4 to 1 poured withering artillery, mortar,
machinegun, and small-arms fire into the stricken unit from the
flanks, forcing our men to seek the cover of a ditch which they
found already occupied by enemy foot troops. As the opposing
infantrymen struggled in hand-to-hand combat, Technician Peden
courageously went to the assistance of 2 wounded soldiers and
rendered first aid under heavy fire. With radio communications
inoperative, he realized that the unit would be wiped out unless
help could be secured from the rear. On his own initiative, he
ran 800 yards to the battalion command post through a hail of
bullets which pierced his jacket and there secured 2 light tanks
to go to the relief of his hard-pressed comrades. Knowing the
terrible risk involved, he climbed upon the hull of the lead
tank and guided it into battle. Through a murderous
concentration of fire the tank lumbered onward, bullets and
shell fragments ricocheting from its steel armor within inches
of the completely exposed rider, until it reached the ditch. As
it was about to go into action it was turned into a flaming pyre
by a direct hit which killed Technician Peden. However, his
intrepidity and gallant sacrifice was not in vain. Attracted by
the light from the burning tank, reinforcements found the
beleaguered Americans and drove off the enemy.
Ross, Wilburn K. Rank and organization:
Private, U.S. Army, Company G, 350th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near St. Jacques, France, 30 October
1944. Entered service at: Strunk, Ky. Birth: Strunk, Ky. G.O.
No.: 30, 14 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty
near St. Jacques, France. At 11:30 a.m. on 30 October 1944,
after his company had lost 55 out of 88 men in an attack on an
entrenched. full-strength German company of elite mountain
troops, Pvt. Ross placed his light machinegun 10 yards in
advance of the foremost supporting riflemen in order to absorb
the initial impact of an enemy counterattack. With machinegun
and small-arms fire striking the earth near him, he fired with
deadly effect on the assaulting force and repelled it. Despite
the hail of automatic fire and the explosion of rifle grenades
within a stone's throw of his position, he continued to man his
machinegun alone, holding off 6 more German attacks. When the
eighth assault was launched, most of his supporting riflemen
were out of ammunition. They took positions in echelon behind
Pvt. Ross and crawled up, during the attack, to extract a few
rounds of ammunition from his machinegun ammunition belt. Pvt.
Ross fought on virtually without assistance and, despite the
fact that enemy grenadiers crawled to within 4 yards of his
position in an effort to kill him with handgrenades, he again
directed accurate and deadly fire on the hostile force and
hurled it back. After expending his last rounds, Pvt. Ross was
advised to withdraw to the company command post, together with 8
surviving riflemen, but, as more ammunition was expected, he
declined to do so. The Germans launched their last all-out
attack, converging their fire on Pvt. Ross in a desperate
attempt to destroy the machinegun which stood between them and a
decisive breakthrough. As his supporting riflemen fixed bayonets
for a last-ditch stand, fresh ammunition arrived and was brought
to Pvt. Ross just as the advance assault elements were about to
swarm over his position. He opened murderous fire on the
oncoming enemy; killed 40 and wounded 10 of the attacking force;
broke the assault single-handedly, and forced the Germans to
withdraw. Having killed or wounded at least 58 Germans in more
than 5 hours of continuous combat and saved the remnants of his
company from destruction, Pvt. Ross remained at his post that
night and the following day for a total of 36 hours. His actions
throughout this engagement were an inspiration to his comrades
and maintained the high traditions of the military service.
Schauer, Henry Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date:
Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 23-24 May 1944. Entered
service at: Scobey, Mont. Born: 9 October 1918, Clinton, Okla.
G.O. No.: 83, 27 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the
call of duty. On 23 May 1944, at 12 noon, Pfc. (now T/Sgt.)
Schauer left the cover of a ditch to engage 4 German snipers who
opened fire on the patrol from its rear. Standing erect he
walked deliberately 30 yards toward the enemy, stopped amid the
fire from 4 rifles centered on him, and with 4 bursts from his
BAR, each at a different range, killed all of the snipers.
Catching sight of a fifth sniper waiting for the patrol behind a
house chimney, Pfc. Schauer brought him down with another burst.
Shortly after, when a heavy enemy artillery concentration and 2
machineguns temporarily halted the patrol, Pfc. Schauer again
left cover to engage the enemy weapons single-handed. While
shells exploded within 15 yards, showering dirt over him, and
strings of grazing German tracer bullets whipped past him at
chest level, Pfc. Schauer knelt, killed the 2 gunners of the
machinegun only 60 yards from him with a single burst from his
BAR, and crumpled 2 other enemy soldiers who ran to man the gun.
Inserting a fresh magazine in his BAR, Pfc. Schauer shifted his
body to fire at the other weapon 500 yards distant and emptied
his weapon into the enemy crew, killing all 4 Germans. Next
morning, when shells from a German Mark VI tank and a machinegun
only 100 yards distant again forced the patrol to seek cover,
Pfc. Schauer crawled toward the enemy machinegun. stood upright
only 80 yards from the weapon as its bullets cut the surrounding
ground, and 4 tank shells fired directly at him burst within 20
yards. Raising his BAR to his shoulder, Pfc. Schauer killed the
4 members of the German machinegun crew with 1 burst of fire.
Schwab, First Lieutenant
Donald K.
First Lieutenant Donald K. Schwab
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as the Commander of
Company E, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, during
combat operations against an armed enemy near Lure, France on
September 17, 1944. That afternoon, as First Lieutenant Schwab
led his company across four hundred yards of exposed ground, an
intense, grazing burst of machinegun and machine-pistol fire
sprung forth without warning from a fringe of woods directly in
front of the American force. First Lieutenant Schwab quickly
extricated his men from the attempted ambush and led them back
to a defiladed position. Soon after, he was ordered to overwhelm
the enemy line. He rapidly organized his men into a skirmish
line and, with indomitable courage, again led them forward into
the lethal enemy fire. When halted a second time, First
Lieutenant Schwab moved from man to man to supervise collection
of the wounded and organize his company’s withdrawal. From
defilade, he rallied his decimated force for a third charge on
the hostile strong point and successfully worked his way to
within fifty yards of the Germans before ordering his men to hit
the dirt. While automatic weapons fire blazed around him, he
rushed forward alone, firing his carbine at the German foxholes,
aiming for the vital enemy machine-pistol nest which had sparked
the German resistance and caused heavy casualties among his men.
Silhouetted through the mist and rain by enemy flares, he
charged to the German emplacement, ripped the half-cover off the
hostile firing pit, struck the German gunner on the head with
his carbine butt and dragged the German back through a hail of
fire to friendly lines. First Lieutenant Schwab’s action so
disorganized hostile infantry resistance that the enemy forces
withdrew, abandoning their formidable defensive line. First
Lieutenant Schwab’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above
and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest
traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon
himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Squires, John C. Rank and organization: Sergeant (then
Private First Class), U.S. Army, Company A, 30th Infantry, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Padiglione, Italy, 23-24
April 1944. Entered service at: Louisville, Ky. Birth:
Louisville, Ky. G.O. No.: 78, 2 October 1944. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty. At the start of his company's attack on
strongly held enemy positions in and around Spaccasassi Creek,
near Padiglione, Italy, on the night of 23-24 April 1944, Pfc.
Squires, platoon messenger, participating in his first offensive
action, braved intense artillery, mortar, and antitank gun fire
in order to investigate the effects of an antitank mine
explosion on the leading platoon. Despite shells which burst
close to him, Pfc. Squires made his way 50 yards forward to the
advance element, noted the situation, reconnoitered a new route
of advance and informed his platoon leader of the casualties
sustained and the alternate route. Acting without orders, he
rounded up stragglers, organized a group of lost men into a
squad and led them forward. When the platoon reached Spaccasassi
Creek and established an outpost, Pfc. Squires, knowing that
almost all of the noncommissioned officers were casualties,
placed 8 men in position of his own volition, disregarding enemy
machinegun, machine-pistol, and grenade fire which covered the
creek draw. When his platoon had been reduced to 14 men, he
brought up reinforcements twice. On each trip he went through
barbed wire and across an enemy minefield, under intense
artillery and mortar fire. Three times in the early morning the
outpost was counterattacked. Each time Pfc. Squires ignored
withering enemy automatic fire and grenades which struck all
around him, and fired hundreds of rounds of rifle, Browning
automatic rifle, and captured German Spandau machinegun
ammunition at the enemy, inflicting numerous casualties and
materially aiding in repulsing the attacks. Following these
fights, he moved 50 yards to the south end of the outpost and
engaged 21 German soldiers in individual machinegun duels at
point-blank range, forcing all 21 enemy to surrender and
capturing 13 more Spandau guns. Learning the function of this
weapon by questioning a German officer prisoner, he placed the
captured guns in position and instructed other members of his
platoon in their operation. The next night when the Germans
attacked the outpost again he killed 3 and wounded more Germans
with captured potato-masher grenades and fire from his Spandau
gun. Pfc. Squires was killed in a subsequent action.
Tominac, John J. Rank and organization: First
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company I, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Saulx de Vesoul, France, 12 September
1944. Entered service at: Conemaugh, Pa. Birth: Conemaugh, Pa.
G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of
duty on 12 September 1944, in an attack on Saulx de Vesoul,
France 1st Lt. Tominac charged alone over 50 yards of exposed
terrain onto an enemy roadblock to dispatch a 3-man crew of
German machine gunners with a single burst from his Thompson
machinegun after smashing the enemy outpost, he led 1 of his
squads in the annihilation of a second hostile group defended by
mortar, machinegun automatic pistol, rifle and grenade fire,
killing about 30 of the enemy. Reaching the suburbs of the town,
he advanced 50 yards ahead of his men to reconnoiter a third
enemy position which commanded the road with a 77-mm. SP gun
supported by infantry elements. The SP gun opened fire on his
supporting tank, setting it afire with a direct hit. A fragment
from the same shell painfully wounded 1st Lt. Tominac in the
shoulder, knocking him to the ground. As the crew abandoned the
M-4 tank, which was rolling down hill toward the enemy, 1st Lt.
Tominac picked himself up and jumped onto the hull of the
burning vehicle. Despite withering enemy machinegun, mortar,
pistol, and sniper fire, which was ricocheting off the hull and
turret of the M-4, 1st Lt. Tominac climbed to the turret and
gripped the 50-caliber antiaircraft machinegun. Plainly
silhouetted against the sky, painfully wounded, and with the
tank burning beneath his feet, he directed bursts of machinegun
fire on the roadblock, the SP gun, and the supporting German
infantrymen, and forced the enemy to withdraw from his prepared
position. Jumping off the tank before it exploded, 1st Lt.
Tominac refused evacuation despite his painful wound. Calling
upon a sergeant to extract the shell fragments from his shoulder
with a pocketknife, he continued to direct the assault, led his
squad in a hand grenade attack against a fortified position
occupied by 32 of the enemy armed with machineguns, machine
pistols, and rifles, and compelled them to surrender. His
outstanding heroism and exemplary leadership resulted in the
destruction of 4 successive enemy defensive positions, surrender
of a vital sector of the city Saulx de Vesoul, and the death or
capture of at least 60 of the enemy.
Valdez, Jose F. Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Rosenkrantz, France, 25 January
1945. Entered service at: Pleasant Grove, Utah. Birth:
Governador, N. Mex. G. O. No.: 16, 8 February 1946. Citation: He
was on outpost duty with 5 others when the enemy counterattacked
with overwhelming strength. From his position near some woods
500 yards beyond the American lines he observed a hostile tank
about 75 yards away, and raked it with automatic rifle fire
until it withdrew. Soon afterward he saw 3 Germans stealthily
approaching through the woods. Scorning cover as the enemy
soldiers opened up with heavy automatic weapons fire from a
range of 30 yards, he engaged in a fire fight with the attackers
until he had killed all 3. The enemy quickly launched an attack
with 2 full companies of infantrymen, blasting the patrol with
murderous concentrations of automatic and rifle fire and
beginning an encircling movement which forced the patrol leader
to order a withdrawal. Despite the terrible odds, Pfc. Valdez
immediately volunteered to cover the maneuver, and as the patrol
1 by 1 plunged through a hail of bullets toward the American
lines, he fired burst after burst into the swarming enemy. Three
of his companions were wounded in their dash for safety and he
was struck by a bullet that entered his stomach and, passing
through his body, emerged from his back. Overcoming agonizing
pain, he regained control of himself and resumed his firing
position, delivering a protective screen of bullets until all
others of the patrol were safe. By field telephone he called for
artillery and mortar fire on the Germans and corrected the range
until he had shells falling within 50 yards of his position. For
15 minutes he refused to be dislodged by more than 200 of the
enemy; then, seeing that the barrage had broken the counter
attack, he dragged himself back to his own lines. He died later
as a result of his wounds. Through his valiant, intrepid stand
and at the cost of his own life, Pfc. Valdez made it possible
for his comrades to escape, and was directly responsible for
repulsing an attack by vastly superior enemy forces.
Ware, Keith L. Rank and organization:
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S . Army, 1st Battalion, 1 5th Infantry,
3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Sigolsheim, France,
26 December 1944. Entered service at: Glendale, Calif. Born: 23
November 1915, Denver, Colo. G.O. No.: 47, 18 June 1945.
Citation: Commanding the 1st Battalion attacking a strongly held
enemy position on a hill near Sigolsheim, France, on 26 December
1944, found that 1 of his assault companies had been stopped and
forced to dig in by a concentration of enemy artillery, mortar,
and machinegun fire. The company had suffered casualties in
attempting to take the hill. Realizing that his men must be
inspired to new courage, Lt. Col. Ware went forward 150 yards
beyond the most forward elements of his command, and for 2 hours
reconnoitered the enemy positions, deliberately drawing fire
upon himself which caused the enemy to disclose his
dispositions. Returning to his company, he armed himself with an
automatic rifle and boldly advanced upon the enemy, followed by
2 officers, 9 enlisted men, and a tank. Approaching an enemy
machinegun, Lt. Col. Ware shot 2 German riflemen and fired
tracers into the emplacement, indicating its position to his
tank, which promptly knocked the gun out of action. Lt. Col.
Ware turned his attention to a second machinegun, killing 2 of
its supporting riflemen and forcing the others to surrender. The
tank destroyed the gun. Having expended the ammunition for the
automatic rifle, Lt. Col. Ware took up an Ml rifle, killed a
German rifleman, and fired upon a third machinegun 50 yards
away. His tank silenced the gun. Upon his approach to a fourth
machinegun, its supporting riflemen surrendered and his tank
disposed of the gun. During this action Lt. Col. Ware's small
assault group was fully engaged in attacking enemy positions
that were not receiving his direct and personal attention. Five
of his party of 11 were casualties and Lt. Col. Ware was wounded
but refused medical attention until this important hill position
was cleared of the enemy and securely occupied by his command.
Waybur, David C.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 3d
Reconnaissance Troop, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near
Agrigento, Sicily, 17 July 1943. Entered service at: Piedmont,
Calif. Birth: Oakland, Calif. G.O. No.: 69, 21 October 1943.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving
actual conflict with the enemy. Commander of a reconnaissance
platoon, 1st Lt. Waybur volunteered to lead a 3-vehicle patrol
into enemy-held territory to locate an isolated Ranger unit.
Proceeding under cover of darkness, over roads known to be
heavily mined, and strongly defended by road blocks and
machinegun positions, the patrol's progress was halted at a
bridge which had been destroyed by enemy troops and was suddenly
cut off from its supporting vehicles by 4 enemy tanks. Although
hopelessly outnumbered and out-gunned, and himself and his men
completely exposed, he quickly dispersed his vehicles and
ordered his gunners to open fire with their .30 and .50 caliber
machineguns. Then, with ammunition exhausted, 3 of his men hit
and himself seriously wounded, he seized his .45 caliber
Thompson submachinegun and standing in the bright moonlight
directly in the line of fire, alone engaged the leading tank at
30 yards and succeeded in killing the crewmembers, causing the
tank to run onto the bridge and crash into the stream bed. After
dispatching 1 of the men for aid he rallied the rest to cover
and withstood the continued fire of the tanks till the arrival
of aid the following morning.
Whitely, Eli Rank and organization: First
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company L, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Sigolsheim, France, 27 December 1944.
Entered service at: Georgetown, Tex. Birth: Florence, Tex. G.O.
No.: 79, 14 September 1945. Citation: While leading his platoon
on 27 December 1944, in savage house-to-house fighting through
the fortress town of Sigolsheim, France, he attacked a building
through a street swept by withering mortar and automatic weapons
fire. He was hit and severely wounded in the arm and shoulder;
but he charged into the house alone and killed its 2 defenders.
Hurling smoke and fragmentation grenades before him, he reached
the next house and stormed inside, killing 2 and capturing 11 of
the enemy. He continued leading his platoon in the extremely
dangerous task of clearing hostile troops from strong points
along the street until he reached a building held by fanatical
Nazi troops. Although suffering from wounds which had rendered
his left arm useless, he advanced on this strongly defended
house, and after blasting out a wall with bazooka fire, charged
through a hail of bullets. Wedging his submachinegun under his
uninjured arm, he rushed into the house through the hole torn by
his rockets, killed 5 of the enemy and forced the remaining 12
to surrender. As he emerged to continue his fearless attack, he
was again hit and critically wounded. In agony and with 1 eye
pierced by a shell fragment, he shouted for his men to follow
him to the next house. He was determined to stay in the
fighting, and remained at the head of his platoon until forcibly
evacuated. By his disregard for personal safety, his
aggressiveness while suffering from severe wounds, his
determined leadership and superb courage, 1st Lt. Whiteley
killed 9 Germans, captured 23 more and spearheaded an attack
which cracked the core of enemy resistance in a vital area.
Zussman, Raymond On 12 September 1944, 2d Lt. Zussman
756th Tank Batallion, was in command of 2 tanks operating with
an infantry company in the attack on enemy forces occupying the
town of Noroy le Bourg, France. At 7 p.m., his command tank
bogged down. Throughout the ensuing action, armed only with a
carbine, he reconnoitered alone on foot far in advance of his
remaining tank and the infantry. Returning only from time to
time to designate targets, he directed the action of the tank
and turned over to the infantry the numerous German soldiers he
had caused to surrender. He located a road block and directed
his tanks to destroy it. Fully exposed to fire from enemy
positions only 50 yards distant, he stood by his tank directing
its fire. Three Germans were killed and 8 surrendered. Again he
walked before his tank, leading it against an enemy-held group
of houses, machinegun and small arms fire kicking up dust at his
feet. The tank fire broke the resistance and 20 enemy
surrendered. Going forward again alone he passed an
enemy-occupied house from which Germans fired on him and threw
grenades in his path. After a brief fire fight, he signaled his
tank to come up and fire on the house. Eleven German soldiers
were killed and 15 surrendered. Going on alone, he disappeared
around a street corner. The fire of his carbine could be heard
and in a few minutes he reappeared driving 30 prisoners before
him. Under 2d Lt. Zussman's heroic and inspiring leadership, 18
enemy soldiers were killed and 92 captured.
Korean War
Bennett,
Emory L. Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Sobangsan, Korea, 24
June 1951. Entered service at: Cocoa, Fla. Born: 20 December
1929, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. G.O. No.: 11, 1 February 1952.
Citation: Pfc. Bennett a member of Company B, distinguished
himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an
armed enemy of the United Nations. At approximately 0200 hours,
2 enemy battalions swarmed up the ridge line in a ferocious
banzai charge in an attempt to dislodge Pfc. Bennett's company
from its defensive positions. Meeting the challenge, the gallant
defenders delivered destructive retaliation, but the enemy
pressed the assault with fanatical determination and the
integrity of the perimeter was imperiled. Fully aware of the
odds against him, Pfc. Bennett unhesitatingly left his foxhole,
moved through withering fire, stood within full view of the
enemy, and, employing his automatic rifle, poured crippling fire
into the ranks of the onrushing assailants, inflicting numerous
casualties. Although wounded, Pfc. Bennett gallantly maintained
his l-man defense and the attack was momentarily halted. During
this lull in battle, the company regrouped for counterattack,
but the numerically superior foe soon infiltrated into the
position. Upon orders to move back, Pfc. Bennett voluntarily
remained to provide covering fire for the withdrawing elements,
and, defying the enemy, continued to sweep the charging foe with
devastating fire until mortally wounded. His willing
self-sacrifice and intrepid actions saved the position from
being overrun and enabled the company to effect an orderly
withdrawal. Pfc. Bennett's unflinching courage and consummate
devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and the
military service.
Crump, Jerry K. Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S.
Army, Company L, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Chorwon, Korea, 6 and 7 September 1951.
Entered service at: Forest City, N.C. Born: 18 February 1933,
Charlotte, N.C. G.O. No.: 68, 11 July 1952. Citation. Cpl.
Crump, a member of Company L, distinguished himself by
conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond
the call of duty in action against the enemy. During the night a
numerically superior hostile force launched an assault against
his platoon on Hill 284, overrunning friendly positions and
swarming into the sector. Cpl. Crump repeatedly exposed himself
to deliver effective fire into the ranks of the assailants,
inflicting numerous casualties. Observing 2 enemy soldiers
endeavoring to capture a friendly machine gun, he charged and
killed both with his bayonet, regaining control of the weapon.
Returning to his position, now occupied by 4 of his wounded
comrades, he continued his accurate fire into enemy troops
surrounding his emplacement. When a hostile soldier hurled a
grenade into the position, Cpl. Crump immediately flung himself
over the missile, absorbing the blast with his body and saving
his comrades from death or serious injury. His aggressive
actions had so inspired his comrades that a spirited
counterattack drove the enemy from the perimeter. Cpl. Crump's
heroic devotion to duty, indomitable fighting spirit, and
willingness to sacrifice himself to save his comrades reflect
the highest credit upon himself, the infantry and the U.S. Army.
Essebagger, John Jr.
Rank and organization:
Corporal, U.S. Army, Company A, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Popsudong, Korea, 25
April 1951. Entered service at: Holland, Mich. Born: 29 October
1928, Holland, Mich. G.O. No.: 61, 24 April 1952. Citation: Cpl.
Essebagger, a member of Company A, distinguished himself by
conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond
the call of duty in action against the enemy. Committed to
effect a delaying action to cover the 3d Battalion's withdrawal
through Company A, Cpl. Essebagger, a member of 1 of 2 squads
maintaining defensive positions in key terrain and defending the
company's right flank, had participated in repulsing numerous
attacks. In a frenzied banzai charge the numerically superior
enemy seriously threatened the security of the planned route of
withdrawal and isolation of the small force. Badly shaken, the
grossly outnumbered detachment started to fall back and Cpl.
Essebagger, realizing the impending danger, voluntarily remained
to provide security for the withdrawal. Gallantly maintaining a
l-man stand, Cpl. Essebagger raked the menacing hordes with
crippling fire and, with the foe closing on the position, left
the comparative safety of his shelter and advanced in the face
of overwhelming odds, firing his weapon and hurling grenades to
disconcert the enemy and afford time for displacement of
friendly elements to more tenable positions. Scorning the
withering fire and bursting shells, Cpl. Essebagger continued to
move forward, inflicting destruction upon the fanatical foe
until he was mortally wounded. Cpl. Essebagger's intrepid action
and supreme sacrifice exacted a heavy toll in enemy dead and
wounded, stemmed the onslaught, and enabled the retiring squads
to reach safety. His valorous conduct and devotion to duty
reflected lasting glory upon himself and was in keeping with the
noblest traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army.
Gilliland, Charles L.
Rank and organization:
Corporal (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Company I, 7th Infantry
Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near
Tongmang-ni, Korea, 25 April 1951. Entered service at: Yellville
(Marion County), Ark. Born: 24 May 1933, Mountain Home, Ark.
G.O. No.: 2, 11 January 1955. Citation: Cpl. Gilliland, a member
of Company I, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and
outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action
against the enemy. A numerically superior hostile force launched
a coordinated assault against his company perimeter, the brunt
of which was directed up a defile covered by his automatic
rifle. His assistant was killed by enemy fire but Cpl.
Gilliland, facing the full force of the assault, poured a steady
fire into the foe which stemmed the onslaught. When 2 enemy
soldiers escaped his raking fire and infiltrated the sector, he
leaped from his foxhole, overtook and killed them both with his
pistol. Sustaining a serious head wound in this daring exploit,
he refused medical attention and returned to his emplacement to
continue his defense of the vital defile. His unit was ordered
back to new defensive positions but Cpl. Gilliland volunteered
to remain to cover the withdrawal and hold the enemy at bay. His
heroic actions and indomitable devotion to duty prevented the
enemy from completely overrunning his company positions. Cpl.
Gilliland's incredible valor and supreme sacrifice reflect
lasting glory upon himself and are in keeping with the honored
traditions of the military service.
Goodblood, Clair Rank and organization:
Corporal, U.S. Army, Company D, 7th Infantry Regiment. Place and
date: Near Popsu-dong, Korea, 24 and 25 April 1951. Entered
service at: Burnham, Maine. Born: 18 September 1929, Fort Kent,
Maine. G.O. No.: 14, 1 February 1952. Citation: Cpl. Goodblood,
a member of Company D, distinguished himself by conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the
United Nations. Cpl. Goodblood, a machine gunner, was attached
to Company B in defensive positions on thickly wooded key
terrain under attack by a ruthless foe. In bitter fighting which
ensued, the numerically superior enemy infiltrated the
perimeter, rendering the friendly positions untenable. Upon
order to move back, Cpl. Goodblood voluntarily remained to cover
the withdrawal and, constantly vulnerable to heavy fire,
inflicted withering destruction on the assaulting force. Seeing
a grenade lobbed at his , he shoved his assistant to the ground
and flinging himself upon the soldier attempted to shield him.
Despite his valorous act both men were wounded. Rejecting aid
for himself, he ordered the ammunition bearer to evacuate the
injured man for medical treatment. He fearlessly maintained his
l-man defense, sweeping the onrushing assailants with fire until
an enemy banzai charge carried the hill and silenced his gun.
When friendly elements regained the commanding ground, Cpl.
Goodblood's body was found Iying beside his gun and
approximately 100 hostile dead lay in the wake of his field of
fire. Through his unflinching courage and willing self-sacrifice
the onslaught was retarded, enabling his unit to withdraw,
regroup, and resecure the strongpoint. Cpl. Goodblood's
inspirational conduct and devotion to duty reflect lasting glory
on himself and are in keeping with the noble traditions of the
military service.
Knight, Noah O. Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, Company F, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kowang-San, Korea, 23
and 24 November 1951. Entered service at: Jefferson, S.C. Born:
27 October 1929, Chesterfield County, S.C. G.O. No.: 2, 7
January 1953. Citation: Pfc. Knight, a member of Company F,
distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable
courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the
enemy. He occupied a key position in the defense perimeter when
waves of enemy troops passed through their own artillery and
mortar concentrations and charged the company position. Two
direct hits from an enemy emplacement demolished his bunker and
wounded him. Disregarding personal safety, he moved to a shallow
depression for a better firing vantage. Unable to deliver
effective fire from his defilade position, he left his shelter,
moved through heavy fire in full view of the enemy and, firing
into the ranks of the relentless assailants, inflicted numerous
casualties, momentarily stemming the attack. Later during
another vicious onslaught, he observed an enemy squad
infiltrating the position and, counterattacking, killed or
wounded the entire group. Expending the last of his ammunition,
he discovered 3 enemy soldiers entering the friendly position
with demolition charges. Realizing the explosives would enable
the enemy to exploit the breach, he fearlessly rushed forward
and disabled 2 assailants with the butt of his rifle when the
third exploded a demolition charge killing the 3 enemy soldiers
and mortally wounding Pfc. Knight. Pfc. Knight's supreme
sacrifice and consummate devotion to duty reflect lasting glory
on himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military
service.
Kyle, Darwin K. Rank and organization: Second
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kamil-ni, Korea, 16
February 1951. Entered service at: Racine, W. Va. Born: 1 June
1918, Jenkins, Ky. G.O. No.: 17, 1 February 1952. Citation: 2d
Lt. Kyle, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against
the enemy. When his platoon had been pinned down by intense
fire, he completely exposed himself to move among and encourage
his men to continue the advance against enemy forces strongly
entrenched on Hill 185. Inspired by his courageous leadership,
the platoon resumed the advance but was again pinned down when
an enemy machine gun opened fire, wounding 6 of the men. 2d Lt.
Kyle immediately charged the hostile emplacement alone, engaged
the crew in hand-to-hand combat, killing all 3. Continuing on
toward the objective, his platoon suddenly received an intense
automatic-weapons fire from a well-concealed hostile position on
its right flank. Again leading his men in a daring bayonet
charge against this position, firing his carbine and throwing
grenades, 2d Lt. Kyle personally destroyed 4 of the enemy before
he was killed by a burst from an enemy submachinegun. The
extraordinary heroism and outstanding leadership of 2d Lt. Kyle,
and his gallant self-sacrifice, reflect the highest credit upon
himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the
military service.
Mendonca, Leroy A. Rank and organization:
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Chich-on, Korea, 4 July
1951. Entered service at: Honolulu, T.H. Birth: Honolulu, T.H.
G.O. No.: 83, 3 September 1952. Citation: Sgt. LeRoy A.
Mendonca, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above
and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. After
his platoon, in an exhaustive fight, had captured Hill 586, the
newly won positions were assaulted during the night by a
numerically superior enemy force. When the 1st Platoon positions
were outflanked and under great pressure and the platoon was
ordered to withdraw to a secondary line of defense, Sgt.
Mendonca voluntarily remained in an exposed position and covered
the platoon's withdrawal. Although under murderous enemy fire,
he fired his weapon and hurled grenades at the onrushing enemy
until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. He fought on,
clubbing with his rifle and using his bayonet until he was
mortally wounded. After the action it was estimated that Sgt.
Mendonca had accounted for 37 enemy casualties. His daring
actions stalled the crushing assault, protecting the platoon's
withdrawal to secondary positions, and enabling the entire unit
to repel the enemy attack and retain possession of the vital
hilltop position. Sgt. Mendonca's extraordinary gallantry and
exemplary valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of
the U.S. Army.
Miyamura, Hiroshi Rank and organization:
Corporal, U.S. Army, Company H, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Taejon-ni, Korea, 24 and
25 April 1951. Entered service at: Gallup, N. Mex. Birth:
Gallup, N. Mex. G.O. No.: 85, 4 November 1953. Citation: Cpl.
Miyamura, a member of Company H, distinguished himself by
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action against the enemy. On the night of 24 April,
Company H was occupying a defensive position when the enemy
fanatically attacked threatening to overrun the position. Cpl.
Miyamura, a machinegun squad leader, aware of the imminent
danger to his men unhesitatingly jumped from his shelter
wielding his bayonet in close hand-to-hand combat killing
approximately 10 of the enemy. Returning to his position, he
administered first aid to the wounded and directed their
evacuation. As another savage assault hit the line, he manned
his machinegun and delivered withering fire until his ammunition
was expended. He ordered the squad to withdraw while he stayed
behind to render the gun inoperative. He then bayoneted his way
through infiltrated enemy soldiers to a second gun emplacement
and assisted in its operation. When the intensity of the attack
necessitated the withdrawal of the company Cpl. Miyamura ordered
his men to fall back while he remained to cover their movement.
He killed more than 50 of the enemy before his ammunition was
depleted and he was severely wounded. He maintained his
magnificent stand despite his painful wounds, continuing to
repel the attack until his position was overrun. When last seen
he was fighting ferociously against an overwhelming number of
enemy soldiers. Cpl. Miyamura's indomitable heroism and
consummate devotion to duty reflect the utmost glory on himself
and uphold the illustrious traditions on the military service.
Mize, Ola L. Rank and organization: Master
Sergeant (then Sgt.), U.S. Army, Company K, 15th Infantry
Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Surang-ni,
Korea, 10 to 11 June 1953. Entered service at: Gadsden, Ala.
Born: 28 August 1931, Marshall County, Ala. G.O. No.: 70, 24
September 1954. Citation: M/Sgt. Mize, a member of Company K,
distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding
courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the
enemy. Company K was committed to the defense of "Outpost
Harry", a strategically valuable position, when the enemy
launched a heavy attack. Learning that a comrade on a friendly
listening post had been wounded he moved through the intense
barrage, accompanied by a medical aid man, and rescued the
wounded soldier. On returning to the main position he
established an effective defense system and inflicted heavy
casualties against attacks from determined enemy assault forces
which had penetrated into trenches within the outpost area.
During his fearless actions he was blown down by artillery and
grenade blasts 3 times but each time he dauntlessly returned to
his position, tenaciously fighting and successfully repelling
hostile attacks. When enemy onslaughts ceased he took his few
men and moved from bunker to bunker, firing through apertures
and throwing grenades at the foe, neutralizing their positions.
When an enemy soldier stepped out behind a comrade, prepared to
fire, M/Sgt. Mize killed him, saving the life of his fellow
soldier. After rejoining the platoon, moving from man to man,
distributing ammunition, and shouting words of encouragement he
observed a friendly machine gun position overrun. He immediately
fought his way to the position, killing 10 of the enemy and
dispersing the remainder. Fighting back to the command post, and
finding several friendly wounded there, he took a position to
protect them. Later, securing a radio, he directed friendly
artillery fire upon the attacking enemy's routes of approach. At
dawn he helped regroup for a counterattack which successfully
drove the enemy from the outpost. M/Sgt. Mize's valorous conduct
and unflinching courage reflect lasting glory upon himself and
uphold the noble traditions of the military service.
Negron, Master
Sergeant Juan E.
Sergeant Juan E. Negron
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of Company
L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat
operations against an armed enemy in Kalma-Eri, Korea on April
28, 1951. That afternoon, Sergeant Negron took up the most
vulnerable position on his company’s exposed right flank after
an enemy force had overrun a section of the line. When notified
that elements of his company were withdrawing, Sergeant Negron
refused to leave his exposed position, instead delivering
withering fire at hostile troops who had broken through a road
block. When the hostile troops approached his position, Sergeant
Negron accurately hurled hand grenades at short range, halting
their attack. Sergeant Negron held the position throughout the
night while friendly forces organized and launched a
counterattack. The next morning, after the enemy had been
repulsed, friendly forces relieved Sergeant Negron and found the
bodies of fifteen enemy soldiers surrounding his position.
Sergeant Negron’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above
and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest
traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon
himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Pendleton, Charles F. Rank and organization:
Corporal. U.S. Army, Company D, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Choo Gung-Dong, Korea,
16 and 17 July 1953. Entered service at: Fort Worth, Tex. Born:
26 September 1931, Camden, Tenn. Citation: Cpl. Pendleton, a
machine gunner with Company D, distinguished himself by
conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond
the call of duty in action against the enemy. After
consolidating and establishing a defensive perimeter on a key
terrain feature, friendly elements were attacked by a large
hostile force. Cpl. Pendleton delivered deadly accurate fire
into the approaching troops, killing approximately 15 and
disorganizing the remainder with grenades. Unable to protect the
flanks because of the narrow confines of the trench, he removed
the machine gun from the tripod and, exposed to enemy
observation, positioned it on his knee to improve his firing
vantage. Observing a hostile infantryman jumping into the
position, intent on throwing a grenade at his comrades, he
whirled about and killed the attacker, then inflicted such heavy
casualties on the enemy force that they retreated to regroup.
After reorganizing, a second wave of hostile soldiers moved
forward in an attempt to overrun the position and, later, when a
hostile grenade landed nearby, Cpl. Pendleton quickly retrieved
and hurled it back at the foe. Although he was burned by the hot
shells ejecting from his weapon, and he was wounded by a
grenade, he refused evacuation and continued to fire on the
assaulting force. As enemy action increased in tempo, his
machine gun was destroyed by a grenade but, undaunted, he
grabbed a carbine and continued his heroic defense until
mortally wounded by a mortar burst. Cpl. Pendleton's unflinching
courage, gallant self-sacrifice, and consummate devotion to duty
reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the finest
traditions of the military service.
Rivera, Private
Demensio
Private Demensio Rivera
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as an automatic
rifleman with 2d Platoon, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d
Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed
enemy in Changyong-ni, Korea on May 23, 1951. Early that
morning, a large hostile force emerged from a dense fog and
viciously attacked Private Rivera and his comrades. Private
Rivera immediately responded by firing with deadly accuracy
until his weapon jammed. Without hesitating, he threw his rifle
down and began to engage the enemy with his pistol and grenades.
At one point, Private Rivera fearlessly crawled from his
emplacement to engage an infiltrating enemy soldier in fierce
hand-to-hand combat. With only the sound of footsteps and
obscure shadows to guide his aim, Private Rivera held his
position against tremendous odds, inflicting numerous casualties
on the enemy until he found himself without ammunition of any
kind except one grenade. Displaying a peerless fighting spirit
and an utterly selfless devotion to duty, Private Rivera pulled
the pin from his last grenade and calmly waited for the enemy to
reach his position. As enemy troops leaped inside his bunker,
Private Rivera activated the grenade with the full knowledge
that it meant his almost certain death. When the debris from the
explosion had cleared, friendly forces recovered a severely
wounded Private Rivera and discovered the bodies of four dead or
dying enemy soldiers surrounding him. Private Rivera’s
extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call
of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military
service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the
United States Army.
Global War on Terror
(Operation Iraqi Freedom)
Smith,
Paul Ray Rank and organization:
Sergeant First Class U.S. Army, 11th EngBn, Co B: Place and
date: Near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4
April 2003. Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above
and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near
Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On
that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the
construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task
Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force.
Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers,
Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense
consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting
Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight
developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire
to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank
weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers
from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled
grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun
their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering
enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged
armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life,
he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the
attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally
wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack,
and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while
allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers.
Sergeant First Class Smiths extraordinary heroism and uncommon
valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third
Infantry Division Rock of the Marne, and the United States Army.
