Advertisement

PVT Herbert Franklyn Christian

Advertisement

PVT Herbert Franklyn Christian Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Byesville, Guernsey County, Ohio, USA
Death
3 Jun 1944 (aged 31)
Valmontone, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy
Burial
Byesville, Guernsey County, Ohio, USA GPS-Latitude: 39.9671396, Longitude: -81.5473522
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He was killed in action. He served as a Private in the United States Army in Company E, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on June 2-3, 1944, near Valmontone, Italy. His citation reads in part "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 submachine gun. 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 three 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 machine-gun, 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 submachine gun, the enemy bullets found their mark and Pvt. Christian slumped forward, dead."
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He was killed in action. He served as a Private in the United States Army in Company E, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on June 2-3, 1944, near Valmontone, Italy. His citation reads in part "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 submachine gun. 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 three 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 machine-gun, 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 submachine gun, the enemy bullets found their mark and Pvt. Christian slumped forward, dead."

Bio by: Don Morfe



Advertisement

Advertisement

How famous was PVT Herbert Franklyn Christian ?

Current rating: 4.13462 out of 5 stars

52 votes

Sign-in to cast your vote.

  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Don Morfe
  • Added: Mar 30, 2004
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8577813/herbert_franklyn-christian: accessed ), memorial page for PVT Herbert Franklyn Christian (18 Jun 1912–3 Jun 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8577813, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Byesville, Guernsey County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.