World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Near Altavilla, Italy, September 13, 1943, when his company attacked a German position he led his platoon forward on the right flank hill where it got pinned down by a heavy of machinegun and rifle fire. Ordering his men to give covering fire, with 3 hand grenades, he crept and crawled forward to a German machinegun position located in a terrace along the forward slope. Approaching within a few yards of the position, and exposed to enemy fire, he hurled 1 grenade into the nest, destroyed the gun and killed 3 Germans. Discovering a second machinegun 20 yards to the right on a higher terrace, he moved under enemy fire to within a few yards and threw a second grenade into this position, destroying it and killing 2 more Germans. His platoon was then able to advance 150 yards further up the crest of the hill, but was again stopped by enemy mortar fire on the reverse slope. He located the mortar position and worked his way to within 10 yards of its position and threw his third grenade, destroying the mortar, killing 2 of the Germans, and forcing the remaining 3 to flee. His actions permitted the platoon to take its objective .
World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Near Altavilla, Italy, September 13, 1943, when his company attacked a German position he led his platoon forward on the right flank hill where it got pinned down by a heavy of machinegun and rifle fire. Ordering his men to give covering fire, with 3 hand grenades, he crept and crawled forward to a German machinegun position located in a terrace along the forward slope. Approaching within a few yards of the position, and exposed to enemy fire, he hurled 1 grenade into the nest, destroyed the gun and killed 3 Germans. Discovering a second machinegun 20 yards to the right on a higher terrace, he moved under enemy fire to within a few yards and threw a second grenade into this position, destroying it and killing 2 more Germans. His platoon was then able to advance 150 yards further up the crest of the hill, but was again stopped by enemy mortar fire on the reverse slope. He located the mortar position and worked his way to within 10 yards of its position and threw his third grenade, destroying the mortar, killing 2 of the Germans, and forcing the remaining 3 to flee. His actions permitted the platoon to take its objective .
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
Medal of Honor
1st Lt US Army
World War II
Family Members
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