World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Private First Class, U.S. Army, 3rd Infantry Division. Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, May 23, 1944, he left the cover of a ditch to engage 4 German snipers who opened fire on his patrol from its rear. He walked deliberately toward the enemy, stopped amid the fire centered on him and with 4 bursts from his BAR, killed all of the snipers. Catching sight of a fifth sniper waiting for the patrol behind a house, he brought him down with another burst. Shortly after, when a enemy artillery concentration and 2 machineguns halted the patrol, he again left cover to engage the enemy weapons single-handed. Within 15 yards, he killed the 2 gunners of the machinegun and crumpled 2 other enemy soldiers who ran to man the gun. Inserting a fresh magazine in his BAR, he opened fire at the other enemy crew, killing all 4 Germans. Next morning May 24, when shells from a German Mark VI tank and machinegun fire again forced the patrol to seek cover, he crawled toward the enemy position. He stood upright only 80 yards from the weapon, raised his BAR to his shoulder and killed the 4 members of the German machinegun crew with 1 burst of fire.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Private First Class, U.S. Army, 3rd Infantry Division. Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, May 23, 1944, he left the cover of a ditch to engage 4 German snipers who opened fire on his patrol from its rear. He walked deliberately toward the enemy, stopped amid the fire centered on him and with 4 bursts from his BAR, killed all of the snipers. Catching sight of a fifth sniper waiting for the patrol behind a house, he brought him down with another burst. Shortly after, when a enemy artillery concentration and 2 machineguns halted the patrol, he again left cover to engage the enemy weapons single-handed. Within 15 yards, he killed the 2 gunners of the machinegun and crumpled 2 other enemy soldiers who ran to man the gun. Inserting a fresh magazine in his BAR, he opened fire at the other enemy crew, killing all 4 Germans. Next morning May 24, when shells from a German Mark VI tank and machinegun fire again forced the patrol to seek cover, he crawled toward the enemy position. He stood upright only 80 yards from the weapon, raised his BAR to his shoulder and killed the 4 members of the German machinegun crew with 1 burst of fire.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
Medal of Honor
T Sgt US Army
World War II
Purple Heart
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
