BULGE MEDALS OF HONOR
During the period 16 December 1944, through 16 January 1945, some 18 American soldiers in the Bulge earned the nation’s highest award for gallantry, the Medal of Honor. In World War II, regulations concerning the Medal of Honor stated:
‘In their provisions for judging whether a man is entitled to the medal, Army Regulations permit no margin of doubt or error. The deed of the winner must be proved by incontestable evidence of at least two eyewitnesses. It must be so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery. It must involve the risk of his life; and it must be the type of deed, which, if he had not done it, would not subject him to any justified criticism’.
The citations for those 18 Medals of Honor speak for themselves:
Corporal Arthur O. Beyer, of Company C, 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. On 15 January 1945, near Arloncourt, Belgium.
‘He displayed conspicuous gallantry in action. His platoon, in which he was a tank destroyer gunner, was held up by anti-tank, machine gun, and rifle fire from enemy troops dug in along a ridge about 200 yards to the front. Noting a machine-gun position in this defense line, he fired upon it with his 75-mm gun, killing one man and silencing the weapon. He dismounted from his vehicle and, under direct enemy observation, crossed open ground to capture the two remaining members of the crew. Another machine-gun, about 250 yards to the left, continued to fire on him. Through withering fire, he advanced on the position. Throwing a grenade into the emplacement, he killed one crewmember and again captured the two survivors. He was subjected to concentrated small-arms fire but, with great bravery, he worked his way a quarter of a mile along the ridge, attacking hostile soldiers in their foxholes with his carbine and grenades. When he had completed his self-imposed mission against powerful German forces, he had destroyed two machine-gun positions, killed 8 of the enemy and captured 18 prisoners, including two bazooka teams. Corporal Beyer’s intrepid action and unflinching determination to close with and destroy the enemy eliminated the German defense line and enabled his task force to gain its objective’.
Private First Class, Melvin E. Biddle of Company B, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, on 23-24 December, 1944 near Soy, Belgium.
‘He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy near Soy, Belgium on 23rd and 24th December, 1944. Serving as lead scout during an attack to relieve the enemy encircled town of Hotton, he aggressively penetrated a densely wooded area, advanced 400 yards until he came within range of intense enemy rifle fire, and within 20 yards of enemy positions killed three snipers with unerring marksmanship. Courageously continuing his advance an additional 200 yards, he discovered a hostile machine-gun position and dispatched its 2 occupants. He then located the approximate position of a well-concealed enemy machine-gun nest, and crawling forward threw hand grenades, which killed two Germans and fatally wounded a third. After signaling his company to advance, he entered a determined line of enemy defense, coolly and deliberately shifted his position and shot three more enemy soldiers. Undaunted by enemy fire, he crawled within 20 yards of a machine-gun nest, tossed his last hand grenade into the position, and after the explosion charged the emplacement firing his rifle. When night fell, he scouted enemy positions alone for several hours, and returned with valuable information, which enabled our attacking infantry and armor to knock out two enemy tanks. At daybreak, he again led the advance and, when flanking elements were pinned down by enemy fire, without hesitation made his way toward a hostile machine-gun position and from a distance of 50 yards killed the crew and two supporting riflemen. The remainder of the enemy, finding themselves without automatic weapon support, fled panic-stricken. Private Biddle’s intrepid courage and superb daring during this 20-hour action enabled his battalion to break the enemy grasp on Hotton with a minimum of casualties’.
Staff Sergeant Paul L. Bolden of Company I, 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division, on 23 December 1944 in Petit-Coo, Belgium.
‘He voluntarily attacked a formidable enemy strongpoint in Petit-Coo, Belgium on 23rd December 1944, when his company was pinned down by extremely heavy automatic and small-arms fire coming from a house 200 yards to the front. Mortar and tank artillery shells pounded the unit, when Sergeant Bolden and a comrade, on their own initiative, moved forward into a hail of bullets to eliminate the ever increasing fire from the German position. Crawling ahead to close with what they knew was a powerfully armed, vastly superior force, the pair reached the house and took up assault positions, Sergeant Bolden under a window, his comrade across the street where he could deliver covering fire. In rapid succession, Sergeant Bolden hurled a fragmentation grenade and a white phosphorous grenade into the building; and then, fully realizing that he faced tremendous odds, rushed to the door. He threw it open and fired into 35 SS troopers who were trying to reorganize themselves after the havoc wrought by the grenades. Twenty Germans died under the fire of his submachine-gun before he was struck in the shoulder, chest, and stomach by part of a burst, which killed his comrade across the street. He withdrew from the house, waiting for the surviving Germans to come out and surrender. When none appeared in the doorway, he summoned his ebbing strength, overcame the extreme pain he suffered and boldly walked back into the house, firing as he went. He had killed the remaining 15 enemy soldiers when his ammunition ran out. Sergeant Bolden’s heroic advance against great odds, his fearless assault, and his magnificent display of courage in re-entering the building where he had been severely wounded cleared the path for his company and insured the success of its mission’.
Private First Class Richard E. Cowan of Company M, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division on 17 December 1944, northeast of Krinkelt, Belgium.
‘He was a heavy machine-gunner in a section attached to Company I in the Krinkelterwald, Belgium, 17 December 1944, when that company was attacked by a numerically superior force of German infantry and tanks. The first six waves of hostile infantrymen were repulsed with heavy casualties, but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but three of his section, leaving Private Cowan to man his gun, supported by only 15 to 20 riflemen of Company I. He maintained his position, holding off the Germans until the rest of the shattered force had set up a new line along a firebreak. Then, unaided, he moved his machine-gun and ammunition to the second position. At the approach of a Royal Tiger (author’s note: not a Tiger but a Panther) tank, he held his fire until about 80 enemy infantrymen supporting the tank appeared at a distance of about 150 yards. His first burst killed or wounded about half of these infantrymen. An 88-mm shell (actually 75-mm) rocked his position when the tank opened fire, but he continued to man his gun, pouring deadly fire into the Germans when they again advanced. He was barely missed by another shell. Fire from three machine-guns and innumerable small arms struck all about him; an enemy rocket shook him badly but did not drive him from his gun. Infiltration by the enemy had by this time made the position untenable, and the order was given to withdraw. Private Cowan, was the last man to leave, voluntarily covering the withdrawal of all his remaining comrades. His heroic actions were entirely responsible for allowing the remaining men to retire successfully from the scene of their last-ditch stand’.
Sergeant Francis S. Currey of Company K, 120th Infantry, 30 Infantry Division, on 21 December 1944 at the Pont de Warche paper-mill on the southeast outskirts of Malmédy, Belgium.
‘He was an automatic rifleman with the Third Platoon defending a strong point near Malmédy, Belgium, on 21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack. Over running tank destroyers and anti-tank guns located near the strongpoint, German tanks advanced to the Third Platoon’s position, and, after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory. Sergeant Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets, meanwhile enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up position at a house a short distance away. In the face of small arms, machine-gun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion, knocked out a tank with one shot. Moving to another position, he observed three Germans in the doorway of an enemy-held house. He killed or wounded all three with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets. Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect and fired a shot, which knocked down half of one wall. While in this forward position, he observed five American who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and three tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced, Sergeant Currey crossed the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of anti-tank grenades. These he launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tankers from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a halftrack in full view of the Germans and fired a machine-gun at the house. Once again changing his position, he manned another machine-gun whose crew had been killed; under his cover five soldiers were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his extensive knowledge of weapons and by his heroic and repeated braving of murderous enemy fire, Sergeant Currey was greatly responsible for inflicting heavy losses in men and material on the enemy. He also rescued five comrades, two of whom were wounded, and for stemming an attack which threatened to flank his battalion’s position’.
Sergeant Francis S. Currey of Company K, 120th Infantry Regiment, who earned the Medal of Honor for bravery at the Pont de Warche paper mill in Malmedy on 21 December 1944. (US Army Signal Corps).
Technical Sergeant Peter J. D’Alessandro of Company E, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, on 22 December 1944, near Kalterherberg, Germany.
‘He was holding an important road junction on high ground, near Kalterherberg, Germany, on 22 December 1944. In the early morning hours, the enemy after laying down an intense artillery and mortar barrage, followed through with an all-out attack that threatened to overwhelm the position. Sergeant D’Alessandro, seeing that his men were becoming disorganized, braved the intense fire to move among them with words of encouragement. Advancing to a fully exposed observation post, he adjusted mortar fire upon the attackers, meanwhile firing upon them with his rifle and encouraging his men in halting and repulsing the attack. Later in the day the enemy launched a second determined attack. Once again, Sergeant D’Alessandro, in the face of imminent death, rushed to his forward position and immediately called for mortar fire. After exhausting his rifle ammunition, he crawled 30 yards over exposed ground to secure a light machine-gun, returned to his position, and fired upon the enemy at almost point-blank range until the gun jammed. He managed to get the gun to fire one more burst, which used up his last round, but with these bullets he killed four German soldiers who were on the verge of murdering an aid man and two wounded soldiers in a nearby foxhole. When the enemy had almost surrounded him, he remained alone, steadfastly facing almost certain death or capture, hurling grenades and calling for mortar fire closer and closer to his outpost as he covered the withdrawal of his platoon to a second line of defense. As the German hordes swarmed about him, he was last heard calling for a barrage, saying, ‘Okay mortars, let me have it – right on this position!’ The gallantry and intrepidity shown by Sergeant D’Alessandro against an overwhelming enemy attack saved his company from complete rout.’
Staff Sergeant Archer T. Gammon of Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division, on 11 January 1945, near Bastogne, Belgium.
‘He charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow to knock out a machine-gun and its three-man crew with grenades, saving his platoon from being decimated and allowing it to continue its advance from an open field into some nearby woods. The platoon’s advance through the woods had only begun when a machine-gun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent 88-mm shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. Sergeant Gammon, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the left, crossing the width of the company’s skirmish line in an attempt to get within grenade range of the tank and its protecting foot troops. Intense fire was concentrated on him by riflemen and the machine-gun positioned near the tank. He charged the automatic weapon, wiped out its crew of four with grenades, and, with supreme daring, advanced to within 25 yards of the armored vehicle, killing two hostile infantrymen with rifle fire as he moved forward. The tank had started to withdraw, backing a short distance, then firing, backing some more, and then stopping to blast out another round. Gammon, whose single-handed relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and instantly killed by a direct hit from the Royal Tiger’s heavy gun. By his intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no matter what the odds, Sergeant Gammon cleared the woods of German forces, for the tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad leader’s platoon’.
Staff Sergeant James R. Hendrix of Company C, 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, on 26 December 1944, near Assenois, Belgium.
‘On the night of 26 December 1944, near Assenois, Belgium, he was with the leading element engaged in the final thrust to break through to the besieged garrison at Bastogne when halted by a fierce combination of artillery and small-arms fire. He dismounted from his halftrack and advanced against two 88-mm guns; and, by the ferocity of his rifle fire, compelled the gun crews to take cover and then to surrender. Later in the attack, he again left his vehicle, voluntarily, to aid two wounded soldiers, helpless and exposed to intense machine-gun fire. Effectively silencing two hostile machine-guns, he held off the enemy by his own fire until the wounded men were evacuated. Sergeant Hendrix again distinguished himself when he hastened to the aid of still another soldier who was trapped in a burning halftrack. Braving enemy sniper fire and exploding mines and ammunition in the vehicle, he extricated the wounded man and extinguished his flaming clothing, thereby saving the life of his fellow soldier. Sergeant Hendrix, by his superb courage and heroism, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service’.
Staff Sergeant Isadore S. Jachman of Company B, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, on 4 January 1945 in Flamierge, Belgium.
‘For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at Flamierge, Belgium, on 4th January 1945, when his company was pinned down by enemy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, two hostile tanks attacked the unit, inflicting heavy casualties. Staff Sergeant Jachman, seeing the desperate plight of his comrades, left his place of cover and with total disregard for his own safety dashed across open ground through a hail of fire and seizing a bazooka from a fallen comrade advanced on the tanks, which concentrated their fire on him. Firing the weapon alone, he damaged one and forced both to retire. Staff Sergeant Jachman’s heroic action, in which he suffered fatal wounds, disrupted the entire enemy attack, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the parachute infantry’.
Technician Fourth Grade Truman Kimbro of Company C, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, on 19 December 1944, near Rocherath, Belgium.
‘On 19 December 1944, as scout, he led a squad assigned to the mission of mining a vital crossroads near Rocherath, Belgium. At the first attempt to reach the objective, he discovered it was occupied by an enemy tank and at least 20 infantrymen. Driven back by withering fire, Technician Fourth Grade Kimbro made two more attempts to lead his squad to the crossroads but all approaches were covered by intense enemy fire. Although warned by our own infantrymen of the great danger involved, he left his squad in a protected place and, laden with mines, crawled alone toward the crossroads. When nearing his objective he was severely wounded, but he continued to drag himself forward and laid his mines across the road. As he tried to crawl from the objective his body was riddled with rifle and machine-gun fire. The mines, laid by his indomitable act of courage delayed the advance of enemy armor and prevented the rear of our withdrawing columns from being attacked by the enemy’.
Sergeant Jose M. Lopez of Company M, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division at the western edge of the Krinkelterwald, Belgium.
‘On his own initiative, he carried his heavy machine-gun from Company K’s right flank to its left, in order to protect that flank which was in danger of being overrun, by advancing enemy infantry supported by tanks. Occupying a shallow hole offering no protection above his waist, he cut down a group of 10 Germans. Ignoring enemy fire from an advancing tank, he held his position and cut down 25 more enemy infantry attempting to turn his flank. Glancing to his right he saw a large number of infantry swarming in from the front. Although dazed and shaken from enemy artillery fire, which had crashed into the ground only a few yards away, he realized that his position would soon be outflanked. Again, alone, he carried his machine-gun to a position to the right rear of the sector; enemy tanks and infantry were forcing a withdrawal. Blown over backward by the concussion of enemy fire, he immediately reset his gun and continued his fire. Single-handed, he held off the German horde until he was satisfied his company had effected its retirement. Again he loaded his gun on his back and in a hail of small-arms fire he ran to a point where a few of his comrades were attempting to set up another defense against the onrushing enemy. He fired from this position until his ammunition was exhausted. Still carrying his gun, he fell back with his small group to Krinkelt. Sergeant Lopez” gallantry and intrepidity, on seemingly suicidal missions in which he killed at least 100 of the enemy, were almost solely responsible for allowing Company K to avoid being enveloped and to withdraw successfully. It gave other forces coming up in support time to build a line which repelled the enemy drive.’
Sergeant Jose M. Lopez of Company M, 23rd Infantry is presented with the Medal of Honor by Major General James van Fleet for heroism in the Krinkelterwald on 17 December 1944 in support of Company I of the same Battalion.
Technical Sergeant Vernon McGarity of 1st Platoon, Company L, 393rd Infantry, 99th Infantry Division, on 16/17 December 1944 in the Krinkelterwald, Belgium.
‘He was painfully wounded in an artillery barrage that preceded the powerful counter-offensive launched by the Germans near Krinkelt, Belgium, on the morning of 16 December 1944. He made his way to an aid station, choosing to return to his hard-pressed men instead. The fury of the enemy’s great Western Front offensive swirled about the position held by Sergeant McGarity’s small force, but so tenaciously did these men fight on orders to stand firm at all costs that they could not be dislodged despite murderous enemy fire and the breakdown of their communications. During the day the heroic squad leader rescued one of his friends who had been wounded in a forward position, and throughout the night he exhorted his comrades to repulse the enemy’s attempts at infiltration. When morning came and the Germans attacked with tanks and infantry, he braved heavy fire to run to an advantageous position where he immobilized the enemy’s lead tank with a round from a rocket launcher. Fire from his squad drove the attacking infantrymen back, and three supporting tanks withdrew. He rescued, under fire, another wounded American, and then directed devastating fire on a light cannon, which had been brought up by the hostile troops to clear resistance from the area. When ammunition began to run low, Sergeant McGarity, remembering an old ammunition hole about a hundred yards distant in the general direction of the enemy, braved a concentration of hostile fire to replenish his unit’s supply. By a circuitous route the enemy managed to position a machine-gun to the rear and flank of the squad’s position, cutting off the only escape route. Unhesitatingly, the gallant soldier took it upon himself to destroy this menace single-handedly. He left cover, and while under steady fire from the enemy, killed or wounded all the hostile gunners with deadly accurate rifle fire and prevented all attempts to re-man the gun. Only when the squad’s last round had been fired was the enemy able to advance and capture the intrepid leader and his men. The extraordinary bravery and extreme devotion to duty of Sergeant McGarity supported a remarkable delaying action which provided the time necessary for assembling reserves and forming a line against which the German striking power was shattered’.
Staff Sergeant Curtis F. Shoup of Company I, 346th Infantry, 87th Infantry Division on 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium.
‘On 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium, his company attacked German troops on rising ground. Intense hostile machine-gun fire pinned down and threatened to annihilate the American unit in an exposed position where frozen ground made it impossible to dig in for protection. Heavy mortar and artillery fire from enemy batteries was added to the storm of destruction falling on the Americans. Realizing that the machine-gun must be silenced at all costs, Sergeant Shoup, armed with an automatic rifle, crawled to within 75 yards of the enemy emplacement. He found that his fire was ineffective from this position, and, completely disregarding his own safety, stood up and grimly strode ahead into the murderous stream of bullets, firing his low-held weapon as he went. He was hit several times and finally knocked to the ground. But he struggled to his feet and staggered forward until close enough to hurl a grenade, wiping out the enemy machine-gun nest with his dying action. By his heroism, fearless determination, and supreme sacrifice, Sergeant Shoup eliminated a hostile weapon which threatened to destroy his company and turned a desperate situation into victory’.
Private First Class William A. Soderman of Company K, 9th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division, on 17 December 1944, at the Lausdell crossroads east of Rocherath, Belgium.
‘Armed with a bazooka, he defended a key junction near Rocherath, Belgium on 17 December 1944, during the German Ardennes counteroffensive. After a heavy artillery barrage had wounded and forced the withdrawal of his assistant, he heard enemy tanks approaching the position where he calmly waited in the gathering darkness of early evening until the five Mark V tanks which made up the hostile force were within point-blank range. He then stood up, completely disregarding the fire that could be brought to bear upon him, and launched a rocket into the lead tank, setting it afire and forcing its crew to abandon it as the other tanks pressed on before Private Soderman could re-load. The daring bazooka-man remained at his post all night under severe artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire, awaiting the next onslaught. It was made shortly after dawn by five more tanks. Running along a ditch to meet them, he reached an advantageous point and there leaped to the road in full view of the tank gunners, deliberately aimed his weapon and disabled the lead tank. The other vehicles, thwarted by a deep ditch in their attempt to go around the crippled machine, withdrew. While returning to his post, Private Soderman, braving heavy fire to attack an enemy infantry platoon from close range, killed at least three Germans and wounded several others with a round from his bazooka. By this time, enemy pressure had made Company K’s position untenable. Orders were issued for withdrawal to an assembly area where Private Soderman was located, when he once more heard enemy tanks approaching. Knowing that elements of the company had not completed their disengaging maneuver and were consequently extremely vulnerable to an armored attack, he hurried from his comparatively safe position to meet the tanks. Once more he disabled the lead tank with a single rocket, his last; but before he could reach cover, machine-gun bullets from the tank ripped into his right shoulder. Unarmed and seriously wounded, he dragged himself along a ditch to the American lines and was evacuated. Through his unfaltering courage against overwhelming odds, Private Soderman contributed in great measure to the defense of Rocherath, exhibiting to a superlative degree the intrepidity and heroism with which American soldiers met and smashed the savage power of the last great German offensive’.
Corporal Horace M. Thorne of Troop D, 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Armored Division, on 21 December 1944, near Grufflingen, Belgium.
‘He was the leader of a combat patrol, on 21 December 1944, near Grufflingen, Belgium, with the mission of driving German forces from dug-in positions in a heavily wooded area. As he advanced his light machine-gun, a German Mark III tank emerged from the enemy position and was quickly immobilized by fire from American light tanks supporting the patrol. Two of the enemy tankers attempted to abandon their vehicle but were killed by Corporal Thorne’s shots before they could jump to the ground. To complete the destruction of the tank and its crew, Corporal Thorne left his covered position and crept forward through intense machine-gun fire until close enough to toss two grenades into the tank’s open turret, killing two more Germans. He returned across the same fire-beaten zone as heavy mortar fire began falling in the area, seized his machine-gun, and without help, dragged it to the knocked-out tank and set it up on the vehicle’s rear deck. He fired short rapid bursts into the enemy positions from his advantageous but exposed location, killing or wounding eight. Two enemy machine-guns abandoned their positions and retreated in confusion. His gun jammed; but rather than leave his self-chosen post he attempted to clear the stoppage; enemy small-arms fire, directed on the tank, killed him instantly. Corporal Thorne, displaying heroic initiative and intrepid fighting qualities, inflicted costly casualties in the enemy and insured the success of his patrol’s mission by the sacrifice of his life’.
Sergeant Day G. Turner of Company B, 319th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division, on 8 January 1945, at Dahl, Luxembourg.
‘He commanded a nine-man squad with the mission of holding a critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy attacked under cover of withering artillery, mortar and rocket fire, he withdrew his squad into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the last man. The enemy attacked again and again and was repulsed with heavy losses. Supported by direct tank fire, they finally gained entrance, but the intrepid Sergeant refused to surrender although five of his men were wounded and one was killed. He boldly flung a can of burning oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in hand-to-hand encounters. He hurled hand grenade for hand grenade, bayoneted two fanatical Germans who rushed a doorway he was defending and fought on with the enemy’s weapons when his own ammunition was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and finally, when only three men in the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered. Twenty prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded were counted. Sergeant Turner’s valiant stand will live on as a constant inspiration to his comrades. His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military service’.
Corporal Henry F. Warner of Anti-tank Company, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, on 20-21 December 1944, near Dom Bütgenbach, Belgium.
‘Serving as a 57-mm, anti-tank gunner with the Second Battalion, he was a major factor in stopping enemy tanks during heavy attacks against the battalion position near Dom Bütgenbach, Belgium, on 20-21 December, 1944. In the first attack, on the early morning of the 20th, Corporal Warner disregarded the concentrated cannon and machine-gun fire from two tanks bearing down on him. He ignored the imminent danger of being overrun by the infantry moving under tank cover, destroyed the first tank and scored a direct and deadly hit upon the second. A third tank approached to within five yards of his position while he was attempting to clear a jammed breach lock. Jumping from his gun pit, he engaged in a pistol duel with the tank commander standing in the turret, killing him and forcing the tank to withdraw. Following a day and night during which our forces were subjected to constant shelling, mortar barrages, and numerous unsuccessful infantry attacks, the enemy struck in great force on the early morning of the 21st. Seeing a Mark IV tank looming out of the mist and heading toward his position, Corporal Warner scored a direct hit. Disregarding his injuries, he endeavored to finish the loading and again fired at the tank, whose motor was now aflame, when a second machine-gun burst killed him. Corporal Warner’s gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty contributed materially, to the successful defense against the enemy attacks’.
Staff Sergeant Paul J. Wiedorfer of Company G, 318th Infantry, and 80th Infantry Division, on 25 December 1944, near Chaumont, Belgium.
‘He alone made it possible for his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared a wooded area of snipers and one platoon was advancing across an open clearing toward another wood when it was met by heavy machine-gun fire from two German machine-gun positions dug in at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked by enemy riflemen. The platoon took refuge behind a small ridge approximately 40 yards from the enemy positions. There was no other available protection and German fire pinned down the entire platoon. It was about noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to a 3-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground. Private Wiedorfer, realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until the two enemy machine-gun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone across the slippery open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Remaining in a crouched position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped and fell in the snow, but quickly rose and continued forward with the enemy concentrating automatic and small arms fire on him as he advanced. Miraculously escaping injury, Private Wiedorfer reached a point some 10 yards from the first machine-gun emplacement and hurled a grenade into it. With his rifle, he killed the remaining Germans, and, without hesitation, wheeled to the right and attacked the second emplacement. His fire wounded one of the enemy and the other six immediately surrendered. This heroic action by one man enabled the platoon to advance from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully to reach its objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were wounded, Private Wiedorfer assumed command of the platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission was accomplished’.