Medal of Honor recipients (January 1945)

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SGT Charles Andrew MacGillivary, 27, USA (1917-2000)

Company I, 463rd Battalion, 71st Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division
Near Woelfling, France
January 1, 1945
Presented August 23, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to SGT Charles Andrew MacGillivary, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 1 January 1945, while serving with Company I, 463rd Battalion, 71st Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, in action at Woelfling, France.

SGT MacGillivary led a squad when his unit moved forward in darkness to meet the threat of a breakthrough by elements of the 17th German Panzer Grenadier Division. Assigned to protect the left flank, he discovered hostile troops digging in. As he reported this information, several German machineguns opened fire, stopping the American advance. Knowing the position of the enemy, SGT MacGillivary volunteered to knock out one of the guns while another company closed in from the right to assault the remaining strongpoints. He circled from the left through woods and snow, carefully worked his way to the emplacement and shot the two camouflaged gunners at a range of three feet as other enemy forces withdrew. Early in the afternoon of the same day, SGT MacGillivary was dispatched on reconnaissance and found that Company I was being opposed by about six machineguns reinforcing a company of fanatically fighting Germans. His unit began an attack but was pinned down by furious automatic and small arms fire. With a clear idea of where the enemy guns were placed, he voluntarily embarked on a lone combat patrol. Skillfully taking advantage of all available cover, he stalked the enemy, reached a hostile machine gun and blasted its crew with a grenade. He picked up a submachine gun from the battlefield and pressed on to within ten yards of another machine gun, where the enemy crew discovered him and feverishly tried to swing their weapon into line to cut him down. He charged ahead, jumped into the midst of the Germans and killed them with several bursts. Without hesitation, he moved on to still another machine gun, creeping, crawling, and rushing from tree to tree, until close enough to toss a grenade into the emplacement and close with its defenders. He dispatched this crew also, but was himself seriously wounded. Through his indomitable fighting spirit, great initiative, and utter disregard for personal safety in the face of powerful enemy resistance, SGT MacGillivary destroyed four hostile machine guns and immeasurably helped his company to continue on its mission with minimum casualties.

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PFC George Benton Turner, 45, USA (1899-1963)

Battery C, 499th Armored Field Artillery, 14th Armored Division
Philippsbourg, France
January 3-4, 1945
Presented September 14, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to PFC George Benton Turner (ASN: 39110988), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 3 January 1945, while serving with Battery C, 499th Armored Field Artillery, 14th Armored Division.

At Philippsbourg, France, PFC Turner was cut off from his artillery unit by an enemy armored infantry attack. Coming upon a friendly infantry company withdrawing under the vicious onslaught, he noticed two German tanks and approximately 75 supporting foot soldiers advancing down the main street of the village. Seizing a rocket launcher, he advanced under intense small-arms and cannon fire to meet the tanks and, standing in the middle of the road, fired at them, destroying one and disabling the second. From a nearby halftrack, he then dismounted a machine gun, placed it in the open street and fired into the enemy infantrymen, killing or wounding a great number and breaking up the attack. In the American counterattack which followed, two supporting tanks were disabled by an enemy anti-tank gun. Firing a light machine gun from the hip, PFC Turner held off the enemy so that the crews of the disabled vehicles could extricate themselves. He ran through a hail of fire to one of the tanks which had burst into flames and attempted to rescue a man who had been unable to escape; but an explosion of the tank’s ammunition frustrated his effort and wounded him painfully. Refusing to be evacuated, he remained with the infantry until the following day, driving off an enemy patrol with serious casualties, assisting in capturing a hostile strongpoint, and voluntarily and fearlessly driving a truck through heavy enemy fire to deliver wounded men to the rear aid station. The great courage displayed by PFC Turner and his magnificently heroic initiative contributed materially to the defense of the French town and inspired the troops about him.

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SSG Isadore Seigfreid Jachman, 22, USA (1922-1945)

Company B, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division
Flamierge, Belgium
January 4, 1945
Presented July 24, 1950
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to SSG Isadore Seigfreid Jachman, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company B, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, in action at Flamierge, Belgium, on 4 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.

SSG 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. SSG 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.

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CDR George Fleming Davis, 33, USN (1911-1945)

USS Walke (DD-723)
Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, the Philippines
January 6, 1945
Presented November 16, 1945
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to Commander George Fleming Davis (NSN: 0-73637), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the USS WALKE (DD-723) engaged in a detached mission in support of minesweeping operations to clear the waters for entry of our heavy surface and amphibious forces preparatory to the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 6 January 1945.

Operating without gun support of other surface ships when four Japanese suicide planes were detected flying low overland to attack simultaneously, Commander Davis boldly took his position in the exposed wings of the bridge and directed control to pick up the leading plane and open fire. Alert and fearless as the WALKE’s deadly fire sent the first target crashing into the water and caught the second as it passed close over the bridge to plunge into the sea of portside, he remained steadfast in the path of the third plane plunging swiftly to crash the after end of the bridge structure. Seriously wounded when the craft struck, drenched with gasoline and immediately enveloped in flames, he conned the WALKE in the midst of the wreckage; he rallied his command to heroic efforts; he exhorted his officers and men to save the ship and, still on his feet, saw the barrage from his guns destroy the fourth suicide bomber. With the fires under control and the safety of the ship assured, he consented to be carried below. Succumbing several hours later, Commander Davis by his example of valor and his unhesitating self-sacrifice, steeled the fighting spirit of his command into unyielding purpose in completing a vital mission. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

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SSG Curtis F. Shoup, 23, USA (1921-1945)

Company I, 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division
Near Tillet, Belgium
January 7, 1945
Presented July 25, 1945
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Curtis F. Shoup, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company I, 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division.

On 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium, Staff Sergeant Shoup’s company attacked German troops on rising ground. Intense hostile machinegun 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 machinegun must be silenced at all costs, Staff 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 was knocked to the ground. But he struggled to his feet and staggered forward until close enough to hurl a grenade, wiping out the enemy machinegun nest with his dying action. By his heroism, fearless determination, and supreme sacrifice, Staff Sergeant Shoup eliminated a hostile weapon which threatened to destroy his company and turned a desperate situation into victory.

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TSGT Russell E. Dunham, 24, USA (1920-2009)

Company I, 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Hill 616, near Kaysersberg, France
January 8, 1945
Presented April 23, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Technical Sergeant Russell Dunham, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

At about 1430 hours on 8 January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kaysersberg, France, Technical Sergeant Dunham single-handedly assaulted three enemy machineguns. Wearing a white robe made of a mattress cover, carrying 12 carbine magazines and with a dozen hand grenades snagged in his belt, suspenders, and buttonholes, Technical Sergeant Dunham advanced in the attack up a snow-covered hill under fire from two machineguns and supporting riflemen. His platoon 35 yards behind him, Technical Sergeant Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct fire toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machinegun. As he jumped to his feet ten yards from the gun and charged forward, machinegun fire tore through his camouflage robe and a rifle bullet seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him spinning 15 yards downhill into the snow. When the indomitable sergeant sprang to his feet to renew his one-man assault, a German egg grenade landed beside him. He kicked it aside, and as it exploded five yards away, shot and killed the German machine gunner and assistant gunner. His carbine empty, he jumped into the emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun crew by the collar. Although his back wound was causing him excruciating pain and blood was seeping through his white coat, Technical Sergeant Dunham proceeded 50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire to attack the second machinegun. Twenty-five yards from the emplacement he hurled two grenades, destroying the gun and its crew; then fired down into the supporting foxholes with his carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen. Although his coat was so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a conspicuous target against the white landscape, Technical Sergeant Dunham again advanced ahead of his platoon in an assault on enemy positions farther up the hill. Coming under machinegun fire from 65 yards to his front, while rifle grenades exploded ten yards from his position, he hit the ground and crawled forward. At 15 yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered a few paces toward the timbered machinegun emplacement and killed the crew with hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range, but missed him. After killing the rifleman, Technical Sergeant Dunham drove others from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire. Killing nine Germans – wounding seven and capturing two – firing about 175 rounds of carbine ammunition, and expending 11 grenades, Technical Sergeant Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded a spectacular and successful diversionary attack.

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SGT Day G. Turner, 23, USA (1921-1945)

Company B, 1st Battalion, 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division
Dahl, Luxembourg
January 8, 1945
Presented June 28, 1945
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to Sergeant Day G. Turner (ASN: 33611056), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, in action at Dahl, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

Sergeant Turner 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 were 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 flaming oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in fierce 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 four hours, and finally, when only three men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered. Twenty-five prisoners were taken, eleven 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.

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TSGT Charles F. Carey Jr., 29, USA (1915-1945)

397th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division
Rimling, France
January 8-9, 1945
Presented July 1945
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to Technical Sergeant Charles F. Carey Jr., ASN: (6253699), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on January 8 and 9, 1945, while serving with the 397th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, in action at Rimling, France.

Technical Sergeant Carey was in command of an antitank platoon when about 200 enemy infantrymen and twelve tanks attacked his battalion, overrunning part of its position. After losing his guns, Technical Sergeant Carey, acting entirely on his own initiative, organized a patrol and rescued two of his squads from a threatened sector, evacuating those who had been wounded. He organized a second patrol and advanced against an enemy-held house from which vicious fire issued, preventing the free movement of our troops. Covered by fire from his patrol, he approached the house, killed two snipers with his rifle, and threw a grenade in the door. He entered alone and a few minutes later emerged with 16 prisoners. Acting on information he furnished, the American forces were able to capture an additional 41 Germans in adjacent houses. He assembled another patrol, and, under covering fire, moved to within a few yards of an enemy tank and damaged it with a rocket. As the crew attempted to leave their burning vehicle, he calmly shot them with his rifle, killing three and wounding a fourth. Early in the morning of 9 January, German infantry moved into the western part of the town and encircled a house in which Technical Sergeant Carey had previously posted a squad. Four of the group escaped to the attic. By maneuvering an old staircase against the building, Technical Sergeant Carey was able to rescue these men. Later that day, when attempting to reach an outpost, he was struck down by sniper fire. The fearless and aggressive leadership of Technical Sergeant Carey, his courage in the face of heavy fire from superior enemy forces, provided an inspiring example for his comrades and materially helped his battalion to withstand the German onslaught.

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MSG Vito Rocco Bertoldo, 28, USA (1916-1966)

Company A, 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division
Hatten, France
January 9-10, 1945
Presented December 18, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Master Sergeant Vito Rocco Bertoldo, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on January 9 and 10, 1945, while serving with Company A, 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division, at Hatten, France.

Master Sergeant Bertoldo fought with extreme gallantry while guarding two command posts against the assault of powerful infantry and armored forces which had overrun the battalion’s main line of resistance. On the close approach of enemy soldiers, he left the protection of the building he defended and set up his gun in the street, there to remain for almost 12 hours driving back attacks while in full view of his adversaries and completely exposed to 88-mm, machinegun and small-arms fire. He moved back inside the command post, strapped his machinegun to a table and covered the main approach to the building by firing through a window, remaining steadfast even in the face of 88-mm fire from tanks only 75 yards away. One shell blasted him across the room, but he returned to his weapon. When two enemy personnel carriers led by a tank moved toward his position, he calmly waited for the troops to dismount and then, with the tank firing directly at him, leaned out of the window and mowed down the entire group of more than 20 Germans. Some time later, removal of the command post to another building was ordered. Master Sergeant Bertoldo voluntarily remained behind, covering the withdrawal of his comrades and maintaining his stand all night. In the morning he carried his machinegun to an adjacent building used as the command post of another battalion and began a day-long defense of that position. He broke up a heavy attack, launched by a self-propelled 88-mm gun covered by a tank and about 15 infantrymen. Soon afterward another 88-mm weapon moved up to within a few feet of his position, and, placing the muzzle of its gun almost inside the building, fired into the room, knocking him down and seriously wounding others. An American bazooka team set the German weapon afire, and Master Sergeant Bertoldo went back to his machinegun dazed as he was and killed several of the hostile troops as they attempted to withdraw. It was decided to evacuate the command post under the cover of darkness, but before the plan could be put into operation the enemy began an intensive assault supported by fire from their tanks and heavy guns. Disregarding the devastating barrage, he remained at his post and hurled white phosphorous grenades into the advancing enemy troops until they broke and retreated. A tank less than 50 yards away fired at his stronghold, destroyed the machinegun and blew him across the room again but he once more returned to the bitter fight and, with a rifle, single-handedly covered the withdrawal of his fellow soldiers when the post was finally abandoned. With inspiring bravery and intrepidity Master Sergeant Bertoldo withstood the attack of vastly superior forces for more than 48 hours without rest or relief, time after time escaping death only by the slightest margin while killing at least 40 hostile soldiers and wounding many more during his grim battle against the enemy hordes.

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SSG Archer T. Gammon, 26, USA (1918-1945)

Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division
Near Bastogne, Belgium
January 11, 1945
Presented February 13, 1946
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Archer T. Gammon (ASN: 33156688), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 11 January 1945, while serving with Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division, in action at Bastogne, Belgium.

Staff Sergeant Gammon charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow to knock out a machinegun 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 machinegun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent 88-mm. shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. Staff Sergeant Gammon, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the left, crossing the width of the platoon’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 machinegun emplaced 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, when the man whose single-handed relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and instantly killed by a direct hit from the Tiger Royal’s heavy gun. By his intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no matter what the odds, Staff 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.

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MAJ [CPT] William “Bill” Arthur Shomo, 26, USAAF (1918-1990)

82 TRS, 71 RG, 308 BW, Fifth Air Force
Over Luzon, the Philippines
January 11, 1945
Presented April 7, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Major (Air Corps), [then Captain] William Arthur Shomo (ASN: 0-439677), United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 11 January 1945, while serving with the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Reconnaissance Group, 308th Bombardment Wing, Fifth Air Force, over Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Major Shomo was lead pilot of a flight of two fighter planes charged with an armed photographic and strafing mission against the Aparri and Laoag airdromes. While en route to the objective, he observed an enemy twin engine bomber, protected by 12 fighters, flying about 2,500 feet above him and in the opposite direction Although the odds were thirteen-to-two, Major Shomo immediately ordered an attack. Accompanied by his wingman he closed on the enemy formation in a climbing turn and scored hits on the leading plane of the third element, which exploded in midair. Major Shomo then attacked the second element from the left side of the formation and shot another fighter down in flames. When the enemy formed for Counterattack, Major Shomo moved to the other side of the formation and hit a third fighter which exploded and fell. Diving below the bomber he put a burst into its underside and it crashed and burned. Pulling up from this pass he encountered a fifth plane firing head on and destroyed it. He next dived upon the first element and shot down the lead plane; then diving to 300 feet in pursuit of another fighter he caught it with his initial burst and it crashed in flames. During this action his wingman had shot down three planes, while the three remaining enemy fighters had fled into a cloudbank and escaped. Major Shomo’s extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity in attacking such a far superior force and destroying seven enemy aircraft in one action is unparalleled in the southwest Pacific area.

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SSG Robert Earl Laws, 23, USA (1921-1990)

Company G, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division
Pangasinan Province, Luzon, the Philippines
January 12, 1945
Presented August 23, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Robert Earl Laws, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 12 January 1945, while serving with Company G, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division, in action at Pangasinan Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Staff Sergeant Laws led the assault squad when Company G attacked enemy hill positions. The enemy force, estimated to be a reinforced infantry company, was well supplied with machineguns, ammunition, grenades, and blocks of TNT and could be attacked only across a narrow ridge 70 yards long. At the end of this ridge an enemy pillbox and rifle positions were set in rising ground. Covered by his squad, Staff Sergeant Laws traversed the hogback through vicious enemy fire until close to the pillbox, where he hurled grenades at the fortification. Enemy grenades wounded him, but he persisted in his assault until one of his missiles found its mark and knocked out the pillbox. With more grenades, passed to him by members of his squad who had joined him, he led the attack on the entrenched riflemen. In the advance up the hill, he suffered additional wounds in both arms and legs, about the body and in the head, as grenades and TNT charges exploded near him. Three Japs rushed him with fixed bayonets, and he emptied the magazine of his machine pistol at them, killing two. He closed in hand-to-hand combat with the third, seizing the Jap’s rifle as he met the onslaught. The two fell to the ground and rolled some 50 or 60 feet down a bank. When the dust cleared the Jap lay dead and the valiant American was climbing up the hill with a large gash across the head. He was given first aid and evacuated from the area while his squad completed the destruction of the enemy position. Staff Sergeant Laws’ heroic actions provided great inspiration to his comrades, and his courageous determination, in the face of formidable odds and while suffering from multiple wounds, enabled them to secure an important objective with minimum casualties.

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CPL Arthur Otto Beyer, 35, USA (1909-1965)

Company C, 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Near Arloncourt, Belgium
January 15, 1945
Presented August 23, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Arthur O. Beyer, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 15 January 1945, while serving with Company C, 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, in action at Arloncourt, Belgium.

Corporal Beyer’s 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 76-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 crew member and again captured the two survivors. He was subjected to concentrated small-arms fire but, with great bravery, he worked his way a quarter 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 eight 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.

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