Medal of Honor recipients (May 1944)

[NormanStewart]

2LT Charles William Shea, 22, USA (1921–1994)

Company F, 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division
Near Mount Damiano, Italy
May 12, 1944
Presented December 1, 1944

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to 2LT Charles William Shea, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on May 12, 1944, while serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, in action near Mount Damiano, Italy.

As 2LT Shea and his company were advancing toward a hill occupied by the enemy, three enemy machine guns suddenly opened fire, inflicting heavy casualties upon the company and halting its advance. 2LT Shea immediately moved forward to eliminate these machine-gun nests in order to enable his company to continue its attack. The deadly hail of machine-gun fire at first pinned him down, but boldly continuing his advance, 2LT Shea crept up to the first nest. Throwing several hand grenades, he forced the four enemy soldiers manning this position to surrender, and disarming them, he sent them to the rear. He then crawled to the second machine-gun position and after a short firefight forced two more German soldiers to surrender. At this time, the third machine gun fired at him, and while deadly small-arms fire pitted the earth around him, 2LT Shea crawled toward the nest. Suddenly he stood up and rushed the emplacement and with well-directed fire from his rifle, he killed all three of the enemy machine gunners. 2LT Shea’s display of personal valor was an inspiration to the officers and men of his company.

[NormanStewart]

1LT Robert Turner Waugh, 25, USA (1919–1944)

Company G, 339th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division
Hill 79, near Tremensuoli, Italy
May 11-14, 1944
Presented October 4, 1944
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to 1LT (Inf) Robert T. Waugh (ASN: 0-1302070), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on May 11-14, 1944, while serving with 339th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, in action with the enemy at Tremensuoli, Italy.

In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on May 11, 1944, 1LT Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on six bunkers guarding this hill, 1LT Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades into it and as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his Tommy gun. He repeated this process on the five remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants. On the morning of May 14, 1LT Waugh ordered his platoon to lay a base of fire on two enemy pillboxes located on a knoll which commanded the only trail up the hill. He then ran to the first pillbox, threw several grenades into it, drove the defenders into the open, and killed them. The second pillbox was next taken by this intrepid officer by similar methods. The fearless actions of 1LT Waugh broke the Gustav Line at that point, neutralizing six bunkers and two pillboxes and he was personally responsible for the death of 30 of the enemy and the capture of 25 others. He was later killed in action in Itri, Italy, while leading his platoon in an attack.

[NormanStewart]

TSGT Van Thomas “Thurman” Barfoot, 24, USA (1919–2012)

Company L, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
Near Carano, Italy
May 23, 1944
Presented September 28, 1944

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to 2LT (Inf), [then TSGT] Van Thomas Barfoot, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on May 23, 1944, while serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division near Carano, Italy.

With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2LT Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of one machine-gun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing two and wounding three Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machine-gun emplacement, and with his Tommy gun killed two and captured three soldiers. Members of another enemy machine-gun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to SGT Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to seventeen. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly-captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, SGT Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of three advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other two changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, SGT Barfoot killed three of them with his Tommy gun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, SGT Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted two of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. SGT Barfoot’s extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of point-blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

[NormanStewart]

2LT [then TSGT] Ernest Herbert Dervishian, 27, USA (1916–1984)

Company B, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division
Near Cisterna, Italy
May 23, 1944
Presented January 12, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to 2LT (Inf), [then TSGT] Ernest Herbert Dervishian, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on May 23, 1944, in the vicinity of Cisterna, Italy.

While serving with Company B, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. 2LT Dervishian and four members of his platoon found themselves far ahead of their company after an aggressive advance in the face of enemy artillery and sniper fire. Approaching a railroad embankment, they observed a force of German soldiers hiding in dugouts. 2LT Dervishian, directing his men to cover him, boldly moved forward and firing his carbine forced ten Germans to surrender. His men then advanced and captured 15 more Germans occupying adjacent dugouts. The prisoners were returned to the rear to be picked up by advancing units. From the railroad embankment, 2LT Dervishian and his men then observed nine Germans who were fleeing across a ridge. He and his men opened fire and three of the enemy were wounded. As his men were firing, 2LT Dervishian, unnoticed, fearlessly dashed forward alone and captured all of the fleeing enemy before his companions joined him on the ridge. At this point four other men joined 2LT Dervishian’s group. An attempt was made to send the four newly-arrived men along the left flank of a large, dense vineyard that lay ahead, but murderous machine-gun fire forced them back. Deploying his men, 2LT Dervishian moved to the front of his group and led the advance into the vineyard. He and his men suddenly became pinned down by a machine-gun firing at them at a distance of 15 yards. Feigning death while the hostile weapon blazed away at him, 2LT Dervishian assaulted the position during a halt in the firing, using a hand grenade and carbine fire, and forced the four German crewmembers to surrender. The four men on the left flank were now ordered to enter the vineyard but encountered machine-gun fire which killed one soldier and wounded another. At this moment the enemy intensified the fight by throwing potato-masher grenades at the valiant band of American soldiers within the vineyard. 2LT Dervishian ordered his men to withdraw; but instead of following, jumped into the machine-gun position he had just captured and opened fire with the enemy weapon in the direction of the second hostile machine-gun nest. Observing movement in a dugout two or three yards to the rear, 2LT Dervishian seized a machine pistol. Simultaneously blazing away at the entrance to the dugout to prevent its occupants from firing and firing his machine gun at the other German nest, he forced five Germans in each position to surrender. Determined to rid the area of all Germans, 2LT Dervishian continued his advance alone. Noticing another machine-gun position beside a house, he picked up an abandoned machine pistol and forced six more Germans to surrender by spraying their position with fire. Unable to locate additional targets in the vicinity, 2LT Dervishian conducted these prisoners to the rear. The prodigious courage and combat skill exhibited by 2LT Dervishian are exemplary of the finest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.

[NormanStewart]

PFC John W. Dutko, 27, USA (1916–1944)

Company A, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Near Ponte Rotto, Italy
May 23, 1944
Presented October 14, 1944
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to PFC John W. Dutko, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on May 23, 1944, while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in action near Ponte Rotto, Italy.

PFC Dutko left the cover of an abandoned enemy trench at the height of an artillery concentration in a single-handed attack upon three machine guns and an 88mm mobile gun. Despite the intense fire of these four weapons which were aimed directly at him, PFC Dutko ran 100 yards through the impact area, paused momentarily in a shell crater, and then continued his one-man assault. Although machine-gun bullets kicked up the dirt at his heels, and 88mm shells exploded within 30 yards of him, PFC Dutko nevertheless made his way to a point within 30 yards of the first enemy machine gun and killed both gunners with a hand grenade. Although the second machine gun wounded him, knocking him to the ground, PFC Dutko regained his feet and advanced on the 88-mm. gun, firing his Browning automatic rifle from the hip. When he came within ten yards of this weapon he killed its five-man crew with one long burst of fire. Wheeling on the machine gun which had wounded him, PFC Dutko killed the gunner and his assistant. The third German machine gun fired on PFC Dutko from a position 20 yards distant, wounding him a second time as he proceeded toward the enemy weapon in a half run. He killed both members of its crew with a single burst from his Browning automatic rifle, continued toward the gun and died, his body falling across the dead German crew.

[NormanStewart]

2LT Thomas Weldon Fowler, 22, USA (1921–1944)

191st Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Division
Carano, Italy
May 23, 1944
Presented October 28, 1944
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to 2LT Thomas Weldon Fowler (ASN: 0-518446), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on May 23, 1944, while serving with the 191st Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Division in action in the vicinity of Carano, Italy.

In the midst of a full-scale armored-infantry attack, 2LT Fowler, while on foot, came upon two completely disorganized infantry platoons held up in their advance by an enemy minefield. Although a tank officer, he immediately reorganized the infantry. He then made a personal reconnaissance through the minefield, clearing a path as he went, by lifting the antipersonnel mines out of the ground with his hands. After he had gone through the 75-yard belt of deadly explosives, he returned to the infantry and led them through the minefield, a squad at a time. As they deployed, 2LT Fowler, despite small arms fire and the constant danger of antipersonnel mines, made a reconnaissance into enemy territory in search of a route to continue the advance. He then returned through the minefield and, on foot, he led the tanks through the mines into a position from which they could best support the infantry. Acting as scout 300 yards in front of the infantry, he led the two platoons forward until he had gained his objective, where he came upon several dug-in enemy infantrymen. Having taken them by surprise, 2LT Fowler dragged them out of their foxholes and sent them to the rear; twice, when they resisted, he threw hand grenades into their dugouts. Realizing that a dangerous gap existed between his company and the unit to his right, 2LT Fowler decided to continue his advance until the gap was filled. He reconnoitered to his front, brought the infantry into position where they dug in and, under heavy mortar and small arms fire, brought his tanks forward. A few minutes later, the enemy began an armored counterattack. Several Mark Vl tanks fired their cannons directly on 2LT Fowler’s position. One of his tanks was set afire. With utter disregard for his own life, with shells bursting near him, he ran directly into the enemy tank fire to reach the burning vehicle. For a half-hour, under intense strafing from the advancing tanks, although all other elements had withdrawn, he remained in his forward position, attempting to save the lives of the wounded tank crew. Only when the enemy tanks had almost overrun him, did he withdraw a short distance where he personally rendered first aid to nine wounded infantrymen in the midst of the relentless incoming fire. 2LT Fowler’s courage, his ability to estimate the situation and to recognize his full responsibility as an officer in the Army of the United States, exemplify the high traditions of the military service for which he later gave his life.

[NormanStewart]

SSG George John Hall, 23, USA (1921–1946)

Company B, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division
Anzio, Italy
May 23, 1944
Presented April 6, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to SSG George John Hall, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on May 23, 1944, while serving with Company B, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action at Anzio, Italy.

Attacking across flat, open terrain under direct enemy observation, SSG Hall’s company was pinned down by grazing fire from three enemy machine guns and harassing sniper fire. SSG Hall volunteered to eliminate these obstacles in the path of advance. Crawling along a plowed furrow through furious machine-gun fire, he made his way to a point within hand grenade range of one of the enemy positions. He pounded the enemy with four hand grenades, and when the smoke had died away, SSG Hall and two dead Germans occupied the position, while four of the enemy were crawling back to our lines as prisoners. Discovering a quantity of German potato-masher grenades in the position, SSG Hall engaged the second enemy nest in a deadly exchange of grenades. Each time he exposed himself to throw a grenade the Germans fired machine-gun bursts at him. The vicious duel finally ended in SSG Hall’s favor with five of the enemy surrendered and five others lay dead. Turning his attention to the third machine gun, SSG Hall left his position and crawled along a furrow, the enemy firing frantically in an effort to halt him. As he neared his final objective, an enemy artillery concentration fell on the area, and SSG Hall’s right leg was severed by a shell burst. With two enemy machine guns eliminated, his company was able to flank the third and continue its advance without incurring excessive casualties. SSG Hall’s fearlessness, his determined fighting spirit, and his prodigious combat skill exemplify the heroic tradition of the American Infantryman.

[NormanStewart]

PFC Patrick L. Kessler, 22, USA (1922–1944)

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Ponte Rotto, Italy
May 23, 1944
Presented January 4, 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 PFC Patrick L. Kessler, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on May 23, 1944, while serving with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in action at Ponte Rotto, Italy.

PFC Kessler, acting without orders, raced 50 yards through a hail of machine-gun fire, which had killed five of his comrades and halted the advance of his company, in order to form an assault group to destroy the machine gun. Ordering three men to act as a base of fire, he left the cover of a ditch and snaked his way to a point within 50 yards of the enemy machine gun before he was discovered, whereupon he plunged headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire. Reaching a spot within six feet of the emplacement he stood over it and killed both the gunner and his assistant, jumped into the gun position, overpowered and captured a third German after a short struggle. The remaining member of the crew escaped, but PFC Kessler wounded him as he ran. While taking his prisoner to the rear, this soldier saw two of his comrades killed as they assaulted an enemy strongpoint, fire from which had already killed ten men in the company. Turning his prisoner over to another man, PFC Kessler crawled 35 yards to the side of one of the casualties, relieved him of his BAR and ammunition and continued on toward the strongpoint, 125 yards distant. Although two machine guns concentrated their fire directly on him and shells exploded within ten yards, bowling him over, PFC Kessler crawled 75 yards, passing through an anti-personnel minefield to a point within 50 yards of the enemy and engaged the machine guns in a duel. When an artillery shell burst within a few feet of him, he left the cover of a ditch and advanced upon the position in a slow walk, firing his BAR from the hip. Although the enemy poured heavy machine-gun and small arms fire at him, PFC Kessler succeeded in reaching the edge of their position, killed the gunners, and captured 13 Germans. Then, despite continuous shelling, he started to the rear. After going 25 yards, PFC Kessler was fired upon by two snipers only 100 yards away. Several of his prisoners took advantage of this opportunity and attempted to escape; however, PFC Kessler hit the ground, fired on either flank of his prisoners, forcing them to cover, and then engaged the two snipers in a fire fight, and captured them. With this last threat removed, Company K continued its advance, capturing its objective without further opposition. PFC Kessler was killed in a subsequent action.

[NormanStewart]

PFC Henry Schauer, 25, USA (1918–1997)

Company F, 2nd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Cisterna di Littoria, Italy
May 24, 1944
Presented October 27, 1944

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to PFC Henry Schauer, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in action at Cisterna di Littoria, Italy.

On May 23, 1944, at 12 noon, PFC (now TSGT) Schauer left the cover of a ditch to engage four German snipers who opened fire on the patrol from its rear. Standing erect he walked deliberately 30 yards toward the enemy, stopped amid the fire from four rifles centered on him, and with four bursts from his BAR, each at a different range, killed all of the snipers. Catching sight of a fifth sniper waiting for the patrol behind a house chimney, PFC Schauer brought him down with another burst. Shortly after, when a heavy enemy artillery concentration and two machine guns temporarily halted the patrol, PFC Schauer again left cover to engage the enemy weapons single-handed. While shells exploded within 15 yards, showering dirt over him, and strings of grazing German tracer bullets whipped past him at chest level, PFC Schauer knelt, killed the two gunners of the machine gun only 60 yards from him with a single burst from his BAR, and crumpled two other enemy soldiers who ran to man the gun. Inserting a fresh magazine in his BAR, PFC Schauer shifted his body to fire at the other weapon 500 yards distant and emptied his weapon into the enemy crew, killing all four Germans. Next morning, when shells from a German Mark VI tank and a machine gun only 100 yards distant again forced the patrol to seek cover, PFC Schauer crawled toward the enemy machine gun, stood upright only 80 yards from the weapon as its bullets cut the surrounding ground, and four tank shells fired directly at him burst within 20 yards. Raising his BAR to his shoulder, PFC Schauer killed the four members of the German machine-gun crew with one burst of fire.

[NormanStewart]

SGT Sylvester Antolak, 25, USA (1918–1944)

Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy
May 24, 1944
Presented October 19, 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 SGT Sylvester Antolak (ASN: 35035020), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on May 24, 1944, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy.

SGT Antolak charged 200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machine-gun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machine gun, machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachine gun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards of the enemy strongpoint, where he opened fire at deadly close range, killing two Germans and forcing the remaining ten to surrender. He reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose to lead the way toward another strongpoint 100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead nearly three-fourths of the space between strongpoints when he was instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his example, his squad went on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice, superb fighting courage, and heroic devotion to the attack, SGT Antolak was directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machine gun, and clearing the path for his company to advance.

[NormanStewart]

PVT James Henry Mills, 21, USA (1923–1973)

Company F, 2nd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Cisterna di Littoria, Italy
May 24, 1944
Presented late 1944

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to PVT James Henry Mills (ASN: 34792609), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in action at Cisterna di Littoria, Italy on May 24, 1944.

PVT Mills, undergoing his baptism of fire, preceded his platoon down a draw to reach a position from which an attack could be launched against a heavily fortified strongpoint. After advancing about 300 yards, PVT Mills was fired on by a machinegun only five yards distant. He killed the gunner with one shot and forced the surrender of the assistant gunner. Continuing his advance, he saw a German soldier in a camouflaged position behind a large bush pulling the pin of a potato-masher grenade. Covering the German with his rifle, PVT Mills forced him to drop the grenade and captured him. When another enemy soldier attempted to throw a hand grenade into the draw, PVT Mills killed him with one shot. Brought under fire by a machine gun, two machine pistols, and three rifles at a range of only 50 feet, he charged headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire shooting his M-1 from the hip. The enemy was completely demoralized by PVT Mills’ daring charge, and when he reached a point within ten feet of their position, all six surrendered. As he neared the end of the draw, PVT Mills was brought under fire by a machine-gunner 20 yards distant. Despite the fact that he had absolutely no cover, PVT Mills killed the gunner with one shot. Two enemy soldiers near the machine-gunner fired wildly at PVT Mills and then fled. PVT Mills fired twice, killing one of the enemy. Continuing on to the position, he captured a fourth soldier. When it became apparent that an assault on the strongpoint would in all probability cause heavy casualties on the platoon, PVT Mills volunteered to cover the advance down a shallow ditch to a point within 50 yards of the objective. Standing on the bank in full view of the enemy less than 100 yards away, he shouted and fired his rifle directly into the position. His ruse worked exactly as planned. The enemy centered his fire on PVT Mills. Tracers passed within inches of his body, rifle and machine-pistol bullets ricocheted off the rocks at his feet. Yet he stood there firing until his rifle was empty. Intent on covering the movement of his platoon, PVT Mills jumped into the draw, reloaded his weapon, climbed out again, and continued to lay down a base of fire. Repeating this action four times, he enabled his platoon to reach the designated spot undiscovered, from which position it assaulted and overwhelmed the enemy, capturing 22 Germans and taking the objective without casualties.

[NormanStewart]

1LT Beryl Richard Newman, 32, USA (1911–1998)

Company F, 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division
Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy
May 26, 1944
Presented January 15, 1945

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to 1LT (Inf) Beryl Richard Newman, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on May 26, 1944 while serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division.

Attacking the strongly held German Anzio-Nettuno defense line near Cisterna, Italy, 1LT Newman, in the lead of his platoon, was suddenly fired upon by two enemy machine guns located on the crest of a hill about 100 yards to his front. The four scouts with him immediately hit the ground, but 1LT Newman remained standing in order to see the enemy positions and his platoon then about 100 yards behind. Locating the enemy nests, 1LT Newman called back to his platoon and ordered one squad to advance to him and the other to flank the enemy to the right. Then, still standing upright in the face of the enemy machine-gun fire, 1LT Newman opened up with his Tommy gun on the enemy nests. From this range, his fire was not effective in covering the advance of his squads, and one squad was pinned down by the enemy fire. Seeing that his squad was unable to advance, 1LT Newman, in full view of the enemy gunners and in the face of their continuous fire, advanced alone on the enemy nests. He returned their fire with his Tommy gun and succeeded in wounding a German in each of the nests. The remaining two Germans fled from the position into a nearby house. Three more enemy soldiers then came out of the house and ran toward a third machine gun. 1LT Newman, still relentlessly advancing toward them, killed one before he reached the gun, the second before he could fire it. The third fled for his life back into the house. Covering his assault by firing into the doors and windows of the house, 1LT Newman, boldly attacking by himself, called for the occupants to surrender to him. Gaining the house, he kicked in the door and went inside. Although armed with rifles and machine pistols, the 11 Germans there, apparently intimidated, surrendered to the lieutenant without further resistance, 1LT Newman, single-handed, had silenced three enemy machine guns, wounded two Germans, killed two more, and took 11 prisoners. This demonstration of sheer courage, bravery, and willingness to close with the enemy even in the face of such heavy odds, instilled into these green troops the confidence of veterans and reflects the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.

[JackPekoyama]

Gosh he looks like a young Indy

[NormanStewart]

SSG Rudolph Bianco Davila, 28, USA (1916–2002)

Company H, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Near Artena, Italy
May 28, 1944
Presented June 21, 2000

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to SSG Rudolph B. Davila, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with serving with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on May 28, 1944, near Artena, Italy.

During the offensive which broke through the German mountain strongholds surrounding the Anzio beachhead, SSG Davila risked death to provide heavy weapons support for a beleaguered rifle company. Caught on an exposed hillside by heavy, grazing fire from a well-entrenched German force, his machine gunners were reluctant to risk putting their guns into action. Crawling fifty yards to the nearest machine gun, SSG Davila set it up alone and opened fire on the enemy. In order to observe the effect of his fire, SSG Davila fired from the kneeling position, ignoring the enemy fire that struck the tripod and passed between his legs. Ordering a gunner to take over, he crawled forward to a vantage point and directed the firefight with hand and arm signals until both hostile machine guns were silenced. Bringing his three remaining machine guns into action, he drove the enemy to a reserve position two hundred yards to the rear. When he received a painful wound in the leg, he dashed to a burned tank and, despite the crash of bullets on the hull, engaged a second enemy force from the tank’s turret. Dismounting, he advanced 130 yards in short rushes, crawled 20 yards and charged into an enemy-held house to eliminate the defending force of five with a hand grenade and rifle fire. Climbing to the attic, he straddled a large shell hole in the wall and opened fire on the enemy. Although the walls of the house were crumbling, he continued to fire until he had destroyed two more machine guns. His intrepid actions brought desperately needed heavy weapons support to a hard-pressed rifle company and silenced four machine gunners, which forced the enemy to abandon their prepared positions. SSG Davila’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

[NormanStewart]

PFC Salvador J. Lara, 23, USA (1920–1945)

2nd Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
Aprilia, Italy
May 27-28, 1944
Presented March 18, 2014
Posthumous

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to PFC Salvador J. Lara (ASN: 39529348), United States Army, for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the Squad Leader of a rifle squad with 2nd Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Aprilia, Italy on May 27 and 28, 1944.

On the afternoon of the 27th, PFC Lara aggressively led his rifle squad in neutralizing multiple enemy strongpoints and in inflicting large numbers of casualties on the enemy. Having taken his initial objective, PFC Lara noticed that the unit to his right was meeting stiff resistance from a large, well-entrenched enemy force in a deep ditch. PFC Lara quickly gathered three men and attacked a wide section of the enemy position, killing four, forcing fifteen others to surrender and causing two enemy mortar crews to abandon their weapons. His fearless and efficient performance enabled both his own unit and the unit to his right to continue to their objective. The next morning, as his company resumed the attack, PFC Lara sustained a severe leg wound, but did not stop to receive first aid. His company suffered heavy casualties as a result of withering machine-gun fire coming from an enemy strongpoint on the right flank. After requesting permission to destroy the enemy machineguns armed only with a Browning Automatic Rifle, PFC Lara crawled alone toward the nearest machinegun. Despite his painful wound and the extreme danger of the task, he rose and fearlessly charged the nest, killing the crew members. Another machinegun opened fire on him, but he quickly neutralized this weapon with accurate fire from his Browning, killing three more of the enemy. His aggressive attack forced two other machinegun crews to flee their weapons. After rejoining his company, PFC Lara continued his exemplary performance until he captured his objective. PFC Lara’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the U.S. Army.

[NormanStewart]

CPT William Wylie Galt, 24, USA (1919–1944)

1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division
Villa Crocetta, Italy
May 29, 1944
Presented February 1, 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 CPT (Inf) William Wylie Galt, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on May 29, 1944, while serving with 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action at Villa Crocetta, Italy.

CPT Galt, Battalion S3, at a particularly critical period following two unsuccessful attacks by his battalion, of his own volition went forward and ascertained just how critical the situation was. He volunteered, at the risk of his life, personally to lead the battalion against the objective. When the lone remaining tank destroyer refused to go forward, CPT Galt jumped on the tank destroyer and ordered it to precede the attack. As the tank destroyer moved forward, followed by a company of riflemen, CPT Galt manned the .30-caliber machinegun in the turret of the tank destroyer, located and directed fire on an enemy 77mm anti-tank gun, and destroyed it. Nearing the enemy positions, CPT Galt stood fully exposed in the turret, ceaselessly firing his machinegun and tossing hand grenades into the enemy zigzag series of trenches despite the hail of sniper and machinegun bullets ricocheting off the tank destroyer. As the tank destroyer moved, CPT Galt so maneuvered it that 40 of the enemy were trapped in one trench. When they refused to surrender, CPT Galt pressed the trigger of the machinegun and dispatched every one of them. A few minutes later an 88mm shell struck the tank destroyer and CPT Galt fell mortally wounded across his machinegun. He had personally killed 40 Germans and wounded many more. CPT Galt pitted his judgment and superb courage against overwhelming odds, exemplifying the highest measure of devotion to his country and the finest traditions of the U.S. Army.

[NormanStewart]

PVT Furman L. Smith, 19, USA (1925–1944)

Company L, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division
Near Lanuvio, Italy
May 31, 1944
Presented January 24, 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 PVT Furman L. Smith, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on May 31, 1944, while serving with Company L, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action at Lanuvio, Italy.

In its attack on a strongpoint, an infantry company was held up by intense enemy fire. The group to which PVT Smith belonged was far in the lead when attacked by a force of 80 Germans. The squad leader and one other man were seriously wounded and other members of the group withdrew to the company position, but PVT Smith refused to leave his wounded comrades. He placed them in the shelter of shell craters and then alone faced a strong enemy counterattack, temporarily checking it by his accurate rifle fire at close range, killing and wounding many of the foe. Against overwhelming odds, he stood his ground until shot down and killed, rifle in hand.