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TANOUYE,
TED T.
Citation: Technical Sergeant Ted T. Tanouye distinguished
himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 July 1944, near Molino
A Ventoabbto, Italy. Technical Sergeant Tanouye led his platoon in an
attack to capture the crest of a strategically important hill that afforded
little cover. Observing an enemy machine gun crew placing its gun in
position to his left front, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crept forward
a few yards and opened fire on the position, killing or wounding three
and causing two others to disperse. Immediately, an enemy machine pistol
opened fire on him. He returned the fire and killed or wounded three
more enemy soldiers. While advancing forward, Technical Sergeant Tanouye
was subjected to grenade bursts, which severely wounded his left arm.
Sighting an enemy-held trench, he raked the position with fire from
his submachine gun and wounded several of the enemy. Running out of
ammunition, he crawled 20 yards to obtain several clips from a comrade
on his left flank. Next, sighting an enemy machine pistol that had pinned
down his men, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crawled forward a few yards
and threw a hand grenade into the position, silencing the pistol. He
then located another enemy machine gun firing down the slope of the
hill, opened fire on it, and silenced that position. Drawing fire from
a machine pistol nest located above him, he opened fire on it and wounded
three of its occupants. Finally taking his objective, Technical Sergeant
Tanouye organized a defensive position on the reverse slope of the hill
before accepting first aid treatment and evacuation. Technical Sergeant
Tanouye’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 United States Army.
TERRY, SEYMOUR W.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company B, 382d Infantry,
96th Infantry Division. Place and date: Zebra Hill, Okinawa, Ryukyu
Islands, 11 May 1945. Entered service at: Little Rock, Ark. Birth: Little
Rock, Ark. G.O. No.: 23, 6 March 1946.
Citation: 1st Lt. Terry was leading an attack
against heavily defended Zebra Hill when devastating fire from 5 pillboxes
halted the advance. He braved the hail of bullets to secure satchel
charges and white phosphorus grenades, and then ran 30 yards directly
at the enemy with an ignited charge to the first stronghold, demolished
it, and moved on to the other pillboxes, bombarding them with his grenades
and calmly cutting down their defenders with rifle fire as they attempted
to escape. When he had finished this job by sealing the 4 pillboxes
with explosives, he had killed 20 Japanese and destroyed 3 machineguns.
The advance was again held up by an intense grenade barrage which inflicted
several casualties. Locating the source of enemy fire in trenches on
the reverse slope of the hill, 1st Lt. Terry, burdened by 6 satchel
charges launched a l-man assault. He wrecked the enemy's defenses by
throwing explosives into their positions and himself accounted for 10
of the 20 hostile troops killed when his men overran the area. Pressing
forward again toward a nearby ridge, his 2 assault platoons were stopped
by slashing machinegun and mortar fire. He fearlessly ran across 100
yards of fire-swept terrain to join the support platoon and urge it
on in a flanking maneuver. This thrust, too, was halted by stubborn
resistance. 1st Lt. Terry began another 1 -man drive, hurling grenades
upon the strongly entrenched defenders until they fled in confusion,
leaving 5 dead behind them. Inspired by this bold action, the support
platoon charged the retreating enemy and annihilated them. Soon afterward,
while organizing his company to repulse a possible counterattack, the
gallant company commander was mortally wounded by the burst of an enemy
mortar shell. By his indomitable fighting spirit, brilliant leadership,
and unwavering courage in the face of tremendous odds, 1st Lt. Terry
made possible the accomplishment of his unit's mission and set an example
of heroism in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
THOMAS, CHARLES L.
Citation: For extraordinary heroism in action
on 14 December 1944, near Climbach, France. While riding in the lead
vehicle of a task force organized to storm and capture the village of
Climbach, France, then First Lieutenant Thomas's armored scout car was
subjected to intense enemy artillery, self-propelled gun, and small
arms fire. Although wounded by the initial burst of hostile fire, Lieutenant
Thomas signaled the remainder of the column to halt and, despite the
severity of his wounds, assisted the crew of the wrecked car in dismounting.
Upon leaving the scant protection which the vehicle afforded, Lieutenant
Thomas was again subjected to a hail of enemy fire which inflicted multiple
gunshot wounds in his chest, legs, and left arm. Despite the intense
pain caused by these wounds, Lieutenant Thomas ordered and directed
the dispersion and emplacement of two antitank guns which in a few moments
were promptly and effectively returning the enemy fire. Realizing that
he could no longer remain in command of the platoon, he signaled to
the platoon commander to join him. Lieutenant Thomas then thoroughly
oriented him on enemy gun dispositions and the general situation. Only
after he was certain that his junior officer was in full control of
the situation did he permit himself to be evacuated. First Lieutenant
Thomas' outstanding heroism were an inpiration to his men and exemplify
the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.
THOMAS, HERBERT JOSEPH
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 8
February 1918, Columbus, Ohio. Accredited to: West Virginia.
Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous
gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d
Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces
during the battle at the Koromokina River, Bougainville Islands, Solomon
Islands, on 7 November 1943. Although several of his men were struck
by enemy bullets as he led his squad through dense jungle undergrowth
in the face of severe hostile machinegun fire, Sgt. Thomas and his group
fearlessly pressed forward into the center of the Japanese position
and destroyed the crews of 2 machineguns by accurate rifle fire and
grenades. Discovering a third gun more difficult to approach, he carefully
placed his men closely around him in strategic positions from which
they were to charge after he had thrown a grenade into the emplacement.
When the grenade struck vines and fell back into the midst of the group,
Sgt. Thomas deliberately flung himself upon it to smother the explosion,
valiantly sacrificing his life for his comrades. Inspired by his selfless
action, his men unhesitatingly charged the enemy machinegun and, with
fierce determination, killed the crew and several other nearby-defenders.
The splendid initiative and extremely heroic conduct of Sgt. Thomas
in carrying out his prompt decision with full knowledge of his fate
reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly
gave his life for his country.
THOMAS, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 149th Infantry,
38th Infantry Division. Place and date: Zambales Mountains Luzon, Philippine
Islands, 22 April 1945. Entered service at: Ypsilanti, Mich. Birth.
Wynne, Ark. G.O. No.: 81, 24 September 1945.
Citation: He was a member of the leading squad
of Company B, which was attacking along a narrow, wooded ridge. The
enemy strongly entrenched in camouflaged emplacements on the hill beyond
directed heavy fire and hurled explosive charges on the attacking riflemen.
Pfc. Thomas, an automatic rifleman, was struck by 1 of these charges,
which blew off both his legs below the knees. He refused medical aid
and evacuation, and continued to fire at the enemy until his weapon
was put out of action by an enemy bullet. Still refusing aid, he threw
his last 2 grenades. He destroyed 3 of the enemy after suffering the
wounds from which he died later that day. The effective fire of Pfc.
Thomas prevented the repulse of his platoon and assured the capture
of the hostile position. His magnificent courage and heroic devotion
to duty provided a lasting inspiration for his comrades.
THOMASON, CLYDE
Rank and organization: sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 23
May 1914, Atlanta, Ga. Accredited to: Georgia.
Citation: For conspicuous heroism and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty during the Marine Raider Expedition
against the Japanese-held island of Makin on 17-18 August 1942. Leading
the advance element of the assault echelon, Sgt. Thomason disposed his
men with keen judgment and discrimination and, by his exemplary leadership
and great personal valor, exhorted them to like fearless efforts. On
1 occasion, he dauntlessly walked up to a house which concealed an enemy
Japanese sniper, forced in the door and shot the man before he could
resist. Later in the action, while leading an assault on an enemy position,
he gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. His courage
and loyal devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping
with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
THOMPSON, MAX
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 18th Infantry,
1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Haaren, Germany, 18 October
1944. Entered service at: Prescott, Ariz. Birth: Bethel, N.C. G.O. No.:
47, 18 June 1945.
Citation: On 18 October 1944, Company K, 18th
Infantry, occupying a position on a hill near Haaren, Germany, was attacked
by an enemy infantry battalion supported by tanks. The assault was preceded
by an artillery concentration, lasting an hour, which inflicted heavy
casualties on the company. While engaged in moving wounded men to cover,
Sgt. Thompson observed that the enemy had overrun the positions of the
3d Platoon. He immediately attempted to stem the enemy's advance single-handedly.
He manned an abandoned machinegun and fired on the enemy until a direct
hit from a hostile tank destroyed the gun. Shaken and dazed, Sgt. Thompson
picked up an automatic rifle and although alone against the enemy force
which was pouring into the gap in our lines, he fired burst after burst,
halting the leading elements of the attack and dispersing those following.
Throwing aside his automatic rifle, which had jammed, he took up a rocket
gun, fired on a light tank, setting it on fire. By evening the enemy
had been driven from the greater part of the captured position but still
held 3 pillboxes. Sgt. Thompson's squad was assigned the task of dislodging
the enemy from these emplacements. Darkness having fallen and finding
that fire of his squad was ineffective from a distance, Sgt. Thompson
crawled forward alone to within 20 yards of 1 of the pillboxes and fired
grenades into it. The Germans holding the emplacement concentrated their
fire upon him. Though wounded, he held his position fearlessly, continued
his grenade fire, and finally forced the enemy to abandon the blockhouse.
Sgt. Thompson's courageous leadership inspired his men and materially
contributed to the clearing of the enemy from his last remaining hold
on this important hill position.
THORNE, HORACE M.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Troop D, 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron, 9th Armored Division. Place and date: Near Grufflingen, Belgium,
21 December 1944. Entered service at: Keyport, N.J. Birth. Keansburg,
N.J. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945.
Citation: He was the leader of a combat patrol
on 21 December 1944 near Grufflingen, Belgium, with the mission of driving
German forces from dug-in positions in a heavily wooded area. As he
advanced his light machinegun, a German Mark Ill tank emerged from the
enemy position and was quickly immobilized by fire from American light
tanks supporting the patrol. Two of the enemy tankmen attempted to abandon
their vehicle but were killed by Cpl. Thorne's shots before they could
jump to the ground. To complete the destruction of the tank and its
crew, Cpl. Thorne left his covered position and crept forward alone
through intense machinegun fire until close enough to toss 2 grenades
into the tank's open turret, killing 2 more Germans. He returned across
the same fire-beaten zone as heavy mortar fire began falling in the
area, seized his machinegun and, without help, dragged it to the knocked-out
tank and set it up on the vehicle's rear deck. He fired short rapid
bursts into the enemy positions from his advantageous but exposed location,
killing or wounding 8. Two enemy machinegun crews abandoned their positions
and retreated in confusion. His gun Jammed; but rather than leave his
self-chosen post he attempted to clear the stoppage; enemy small-arms
fire, concentrated on the tank, killed him instantly. Cpl. Thorne, displaying
heroic initiative and intrepid fighting qualities, inflicted costly
casualties on the enemy and insured the success of his patrol's mission
by the sacrifice of his life.
THORSON, JOHN F.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 17th
Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: Dagami, Leyte, Philippine
Islands, 28 October 1944. Entered service at: Armstrong, Iowa Birth:
Armstrong, Iowa. G.O. No.: 58, 19 July 1945.
Citation: He was an automatic rifleman on 28 October
1944, in the attack on Dagami Leyte, Philippine Islands. A heavily fortified
enemy position consisting of pillboxes and supporting trenches held
up the advance of his company. His platoon was ordered to out-flank
and neutralize the strongpoint. Voluntarily moving well out in front
of his group, Pvt. Thorson came upon an enemy fire trench defended by
several hostile riflemen and, disregarding the intense fire directed
at him, attacked single-handed He was seriously wounded and fell about
6 yards from the trench. Just as the remaining 20 members of the platoon
reached him, 1 of the enemy threw a grenade into their midst. Shouting
a warning and making a final effort, Pvt. Thorson rolled onto the grenade
and smothered the explosion with his body. He was instantly killed,
but his magnificent courage and supreme self-sacrifice prevented the
injury and possible death of his comrades, and remain with them as a
lasting inspiration.
TIMMERMAN, GRANT FREDERICK
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 14 February
1919, Americus, Kans. Accredited to: Kansas. Other Navy award: Bronze
Star Medal.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as tank commander
serving with the 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, during
action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, on
8 July 1944. Advancing with his tank a few yards ahead of the infantry
in support of a vigorous attack on hostile positions, Sgt. Timmerman
maintained steady fire from his antiaircraft sky mount machinegun until
progress was impeded by a series of enemy trenches and pillboxes. Observing
a target of opportunity, he immediately ordered the tank stopped and,
mindful of the danger from the muzzle blast as he prepared to open fire
with the 75mm., fearlessly stood up in the exposed turret and ordered
the infantry to hit the deck. Quick to act as a grenade, hurled by the
Japanese, was about to drop into the open turret hatch, Sgt. Timmerman
unhesitatingly blocked the opening with his body holding the grenade
against his chest and taking the brunt of the explosion. His exception
valor and loyalty in saving his men at the cost of his own life reflect
the highest credit upon Sgt. Timmerman and the U.S. Naval Service. He
gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
TOMICH, PETER
Rank and organization: Chief Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 3 June 1893,
Prolog, Austria. Accredited to: New Jersey.
Citation: For distinguished conduct in the line
of his profession, and extraordinary courage and disregard of his own
safety, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor by the Japanese
forces on 7 December 1941. Although realizing that the ship was capsizing,
as a result of enemy bombing and torpedoing, Tomich remained at his
post in the engineering plant of the U.S.S. Utah, until he saw that
all boilers were secured and all fireroom personnel had left their stations,
and by so doing lost his own life .
TOMINAC, JOHN J.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company I, 15th
Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Saulx de Vesoul, France,
12 September 1944. Entered service at: Conemaugh, Pa. Birth: Conemaugh,
Pa. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 12 September 1944,
in an attack on Saulx de Vesoul, France 1st Lt. Tominac charged alone
over 50 yards of exposed terrain onto an enemy roadblock to dispatch
a 3-man crew of German machine gunners with a single burst from his
Thompson machinegun after smashing the enemy outpost, he led 1 of his
squads in the annihilation of a second hostile group defended by mortar,
machinegun automatic pistol, rifle and grenade fire, killing about 30
of the enemy. Reaching the suburbs of the town, he advanced 50 yards
ahead of his men to reconnoiter a third enemy position which commanded
the road with a 77-mm. SP gun supported by infantry elements. The SP
gun opened fire on his supporting tank, setting it afire with a direct
hit. A fragment from the same shell painfully wounded 1st Lt. Tominac
in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. As the crew abandoned the
M-4 tank, which was rolling down hill toward the enemy, 1st Lt. Tominac
picked himself up and jumped onto the hull of the burning vehicle. Despite
withering enemy machinegun, mortar, pistol, and sniper fire, which was
ricocheting off the hull and turret of the M-4, 1st Lt. Tominac climbed
to the turret and gripped the 50-caliber antiaircraft machinegun. Plainly
silhouetted against the sky, painfully wounded, and with the tank burning
beneath his feet, he directed bursts of machinegun fire on the roadblock,
the SP gun, and the supporting German infantrymen, and forced the enemy
to withdraw from his prepared position. Jumping off the tank before
it exploded, 1st Lt. Tominac refused evacuation despite his painful
wound. Calling upon a sergeant to extract the shell fragments from his
shoulder with a pocketknife, he continued to direct the assault, led
his squad in a hand grenade attack against a fortified position occupied
by 32 of the enemy armed with machineguns, machine pistols, and rifles,
and compelled them to surrender. His outstanding heroism and exemplary
leadership resulted in the destruction of 4 successive enemy defensive
positions, surrender of a vital sector of the city Saulx de Vesoul,
and the death or capture of at least 60 of the enemy.
TOWLE, JOHN R.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company C, 504th Parachute
Infantry, 82d Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Oosterhout, Holland,
21 September 1944. Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio. Birth: Cleveland,
Ohio. G.O. No.: 18, 15 March 1945.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 21 September
1944, near Oosterhout, Holland. The rifle company in which Pvt. Towle
served as rocket launcher gunner was occupying a defensive position
in the west sector of the recently established Nijmegen bridgehead when
a strong enemy force of approximately 100 infantry supported by 2 tanks
and a half-track formed for a counterattack. With full knowledge of
the disastrous consequences resulting not only to his company but to
the entire bridgehead by an enemy breakthrough, Pvt. Towle immediately
and without orders left his foxhole and moved 200 yards in the face
of Intense small-arms fire to a position on an exposed dike roadbed.
From this precarious position Pvt. Towle fired his rocket launcher at
and hit both tanks to his immediate front. Armored skirting on both
tanks prevented penetration by the projectiles, but both vehicles withdrew
slightly damaged. Still under intense fire and fully exposed to the
enemy, Pvt. Towle then engaged a nearby house which 9 Germans had entered
and were using as a strongpoint and with 1 round killed all 9. Hurriedly
replenishing his supply of ammunition, Pvt. Towle, motivated only by
his high conception of duty which called for the destruction of the
enemy at any cost, then rushed approximately 125 yards through grazing
enemy fire to an exposed position from which he could engage the enemy
half-track with his rocket launcher. While in a kneeling position preparatory
to firing on the enemy vehicle, Pvt. Towle was mortally wounded by a
mortar shell. By his heroic tenacity, at the price of his life, Pvt.
Towle saved the lives of many of his comrades and was directly instrumental
in breaking up the enemy counterattack.
TREADWELL, JACK L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company F, 180th Infantry,
45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany,
18 March 1945. Entered service at: Snyder. Okla. Birth: Ashland, Ala.
G.O. No.: 79, 14 September 1945.
Citation: Capt. Treadwell (then 1st Lt.), commanding
officer of Company F, near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, in the Siegfried
line, single-handedly captured 6 pillboxes and 18 prisoners. Murderous
enemy automatic and rifle fire with intermittent artillery bombardments
had pinned down his company for hours at the base of a hill defended
by concrete fortifications and interlocking trenches. Eight men sent
to attack a single point had all become casualties on the hare slope
when Capt. Treadwell, armed with a submachinegun and handgrenades, went
forward alone to clear the way for his stalled company. Over the terrain
devoid of cover and swept by bullets, he fearlessly advanced, firing
at the aperture of the nearest pillbox and, when within range, hurling
grenades at it. He reached the pillbox, thrust the muzzle of his gun
through the port, and drove 4 Germans out with their hands in the air.
A fifth was found dead inside. Waving these prisoners back to the American
line, he continued under terrible, concentrated fire to the next pillbox
and took it in the same manner. In this fort he captured the commander
of the hill defenses, whom he sent to the rear with the other prisoners.
Never slackening his attack, he then ran across the crest of the hill
to a third pillbox, traversing this distance in full view of hostile
machine gunners and snipers. He was again successful in taking the enemy
position. The Germans quickly fell prey to his further rushes on 3 more
pillboxes in the confusion and havoc caused by his whirlwind assaults
and capture of their commander. Inspired by the electrifying performance
of their leader, the men of Company F stormed after him and overwhelmed
resistance on the entire hill, driving a wedge into the Siegfried line
and making it possible for their battalion to take its objective. By
his courageous willingness to face nearly impossible odds and by his
overwhelming one-man offensive, Capt. Treadwell reduced a heavily fortified,
seemingly impregnable enemy sector.
TRUEMPER, WALTER E. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps. 510th
Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group. Place and date: Over Europe, 20
February 1944. Entered service at: Aurora, Ill. Born: 31 October 1918,
Aurora, Ill. G.O. No.: 52, 22 June 1944.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against
the enemy in connection with a bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe
on 20 February 1944. The aircraft on which 2d Lt. Truemper was serving
as navigator was attacked by a squadron of enemy fighters with the result
that the copilot was killed outright, the pilot wounded and rendered
unconscious, the radio operator wounded and the plane severely damaged
Nevertheless, 2d Lt. Truemper and other members of the crew managed
to right the plane and fly it back to their home station, where they
contacted the control tower and reported the situation. 2d Lt. Truemper
and the engineer volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members
of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving 2d Lt. Truemper and the engineer
aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane,
2d Lt. Truemper's commanding officer decided the damaged plane could
not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon
it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism,
2d Lt. Truemper and the engineer replied that the pilot was still alive
but could not be moved and that they would not desert him. They were
then told to attempt a landing. After 2 unsuccessful efforts their plane
crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. 2d Lt. Truemper,
the engineer, and the wounded pilot were killed.
TURNER, DAY G.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 319th Infantry,
80th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Dahl, Luxembourg, 8 January
1945. Entered service at. Nescopek, Pa. Birth: Berwick, Pa. G.O. No.:
49, 28 June 1945.
Citation: He commanded a 9-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
5 of his men were wounded and 1 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 handgrenade for handgrenade, bayoneted 2 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 4 hours, and finally, when only 3 men of the defending squad
were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered. Twenty-five prisoners were
taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded were counted. Sgt.
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
.
TURNER, GEORGE B.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Battery C, 499th
Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 14th Armored Division. Place and
date. Philippsbourg, France, 3 January 1945. Entered service at: Los
Angeles, Calif. Born: 27 June 1899, Longview, Tex. G.O. No.: 79, 14
September 1945.
Citation: At Phillippsbourg, France, he 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 2 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 1
and disabling the second. From a nearby half-track he then dismounted
a machinegun, 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, 2 supporting tanks
were disabled by an enemy antitank gun. Firing a light machinegun 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 strong point, 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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