Advertisement

1LT John Robert Fox

Advertisement

1LT John Robert Fox Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA
Death
26 Dec 1944 (aged 29)
Sommocolonia, Provincia di Lucca, Toscana, Italy
Burial
Whitman, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA GPS-Latitude: 42.0849147, Longitude: -70.9305791
Plot
Lot 664 & 665, Burial # 4437
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during World War II as a 1st Lieutenant in Company C, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on December 26, 1944 at Sommocolonia, Italy. His citation reads "For extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy. During the preceding few weeks, Lieutenant Fox served with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion as a forward observer. On Christmas night, enemy soldiers gradually infiltrated the town of Sommocolonia in civilian clothes, and by early morning the town was largely in hostile hands. Commencing with a heavy barrage of enemy artillery at 0400 hours on 26 December 1944, an organized attack by uniformed German units began. Being greatly outnumbered, most of the United States Infantry forces were forced to withdraw from the town, but Lieutenant Fox and some other members of his observer party voluntarily remained on the second floor of a house to direct defensive artillery fire. At 0800 hours, Lieutenant Fox reported that the Germans were in the streets and attacking in strength. He then called for defensive artillery fire to slow the enemy advance. As the Germans continued to press the attack towards the area that Lieutenant Fox occupied, he adjusted the artillery fire closer to his position. Finally he was warned that the next adjustment would bring the deadly artillery right on top of his position. After acknowledging the danger, Lieutenant Fox insisted that the last adjustment be fired as this was the only way to defeat the attacking soldiers. Later, when a counterattack retook the position from the Germans, Lieutenant Fox's body was found with the bodies of approximately 100 German soldiers. Lieutenant Fox's gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, contributed greatly to delaying the enemy advance until other infantry and artillery units could reorganize to repel the attack. His extraordinary valorous actions were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army." He had been posthumously award the Distinguished Service Medal, but in the early 1990s it was determined that African-American soldiers were denied consideration for the Medal of Honor solely due to their race. After a review, seven African-American soldiers had their Medals upgraded in January, 1997 to the CMOH; Lieutenant Fox being one of the seven. After the war the citizens of Sommocolonia, Italy erected a monument to nine men who were killed during the artillery barrage - eight Italian soldiers, and Lieutenant Fox.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during World War II as a 1st Lieutenant in Company C, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on December 26, 1944 at Sommocolonia, Italy. His citation reads "For extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy. During the preceding few weeks, Lieutenant Fox served with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion as a forward observer. On Christmas night, enemy soldiers gradually infiltrated the town of Sommocolonia in civilian clothes, and by early morning the town was largely in hostile hands. Commencing with a heavy barrage of enemy artillery at 0400 hours on 26 December 1944, an organized attack by uniformed German units began. Being greatly outnumbered, most of the United States Infantry forces were forced to withdraw from the town, but Lieutenant Fox and some other members of his observer party voluntarily remained on the second floor of a house to direct defensive artillery fire. At 0800 hours, Lieutenant Fox reported that the Germans were in the streets and attacking in strength. He then called for defensive artillery fire to slow the enemy advance. As the Germans continued to press the attack towards the area that Lieutenant Fox occupied, he adjusted the artillery fire closer to his position. Finally he was warned that the next adjustment would bring the deadly artillery right on top of his position. After acknowledging the danger, Lieutenant Fox insisted that the last adjustment be fired as this was the only way to defeat the attacking soldiers. Later, when a counterattack retook the position from the Germans, Lieutenant Fox's body was found with the bodies of approximately 100 German soldiers. Lieutenant Fox's gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, contributed greatly to delaying the enemy advance until other infantry and artillery units could reorganize to repel the attack. His extraordinary valorous actions were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army." He had been posthumously award the Distinguished Service Medal, but in the early 1990s it was determined that African-American soldiers were denied consideration for the Medal of Honor solely due to their race. After a review, seven African-American soldiers had their Medals upgraded in January, 1997 to the CMOH; Lieutenant Fox being one of the seven. After the war the citizens of Sommocolonia, Italy erected a monument to nine men who were killed during the artillery barrage - eight Italian soldiers, and Lieutenant Fox.

Bio by: RPD2


Inscription

MEDAL OF HONOR
1ST LT 366 INFANTRY
WORLD WAR II
PH _BSM




Advertisement

Advertisement

How famous was 1LT John Robert Fox ?

Current rating: 4.37931 out of 5 stars

116 votes

Sign-in to cast your vote.

  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Don Morfe
  • Added: Dec 23, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8202780/john_robert-fox: accessed ), memorial page for 1LT John Robert Fox (18 May 1915–26 Dec 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8202780, citing Colebrook Cemetery, Whitman, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.