Rank and organization: Private, U.S.
Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date:
Near St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered service
at: Albany, N.Y. Birth: Fulton, N.Y. G.O. No.: 78, 2 October
1944.
Citation:
For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in the vicinity
of St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. On the morning of D-day Pvt.
Barrett, landing in the face of extremely heavy enemy fire,
was forced to wade ashore through neck-deep water. Disregarding
the personal danger, he returned to the surf again and again
to assist his floundering comrades and save them from drowning.
Refusing to remain pinned down by the intense barrage of small-arms
and mortar fire poured at the landing points, Pvt. Barrett,
working with fierce determination, saved many lives by carrying
casualties to an evacuation boat Iying offshore. In addition
to his assigned mission as guide, he carried dispatches the
length of the fire-swept beach; he assisted the wounded; he
calmed the shocked; he arose as a leader in the stress of
the occasion. His coolness and his dauntless daring courage
while constantly risking his life during a period of many
hours had an inestimable effect on his comrades and is in
keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
*DEFRANZO,
ARTHUR F.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant,
U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Vaubadon,
France, 10 June 1944. Entered service at: Saugus, Mass. Birth:
Saugus, Mass. G.O. No.: 1, 4 January 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 10 June 1944,
near Vaubadon, France. As scouts were advancing across an
open field, the enemy suddenly opened fire with several machineguns
and hit 1 of the men. S/Sgt. DeFranzo courageously moved out
in the open to the aid of the wounded scout and was himself
wounded but brought the man to safety. Refusing aid, S/Sgt.
DeFranzo reentered the open field and led the advance upon
the enemy. There were always at least 2 machineguns bringing
unrelenting fire upon him, but S/Sgt. DeFranzo kept going
forward, firing into the enemy and 1 by 1 the enemy emplacements
became silent. While advancing he was again wounded, but continued
on until he was within 100 yards of the enemy position and
even as he fell, he kept firing his rifle and waving his men
forward. When his company came up behind him, S/Sgt. DeFranzo,
despite his many severe wounds, suddenly raised himself and
once more moved forward in the lead of his men until he was
again hit by enemy fire. In a final gesture of indomitable
courage, he threw several grenades at the enemy machinegun
position and completely destroyed the gun. In this action,
S/Sgt. DeFranzo lost his life, but by bearing the brunt of
the enemy fire in leading the attack, he prevented a delay
in the assault which would have been of considerable benefit
to the foe, and he made possible his company's advance with
a minimum of casualties. The extraordinary heroism and magnificent
devotion to duty displayed by S/Sgt. DeFranzo was a great
inspiration to all about him, and is in keeping with the highest
traditions of the armed forces.
EHLERS,
WALTER D.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant,
U.S. Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and
date: Near Goville, France, 9-10 June 1944. Entered service
at: Manhattan, Kans. Birth: Junction City, Kans. G.O. No.:
91, 19 December 1944.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty on 9-10 June 1944,
near Goville, France. S/Sgt. Ehlers, always acting as the
spearhead of the attack, repeatedly led his men against heavily
defended enemy strong points exposing himself to deadly hostile
fire whenever the situation required heroic and courageous
leadership. Without waiting for an order, S/Sgt. Ehlers, far
ahead of his men, led his squad against a strongly defended
enemy strong point, personally killing 4 of an enemy patrol
who attacked him en route. Then crawling forward under withering
machinegun fire, he pounced upon the guncrew and put it out
of action. Turning his attention to 2 mortars protected by
the crossfire of 2 machineguns, S/Sgt. Ehlers led his men
through this hail of bullets to kill or put to flight the
enemy of the mortar section, killing 3 men himself. After
mopping up the mortar positions, he again advanced on a machinegun,
his progress effectively covered by his squad. When he was
almost on top of the gun he leaped to his feet and, although
greatly outnumbered, he knocked out the position single-handed.
The next day, having advanced deep into enemy territory, the
platoon of which S/Sgt. Ehlers was a member, finding itself
in an untenable position as the enemy brought increased mortar,
machinegun, and small arms fire to bear on it, was ordered
to withdraw. S/Sgt. Ehlers, after his squad had covered the
withdrawal of the remainder of the platoon, stood up and by
continuous fire at the semicircle of enemy placements, diverted
the bulk of the heavy hostile fire on himself, thus permitting
the members of his own squad to withdraw. At this point, though
wounded himself, he carried his wounded automatic rifleman
to safety and then returned fearlessly over the shell-swept
field to retrieve the automatic rifle which he was unable
to carry previously. After having his wound treated, he refused
to be evacuated, and returned to lead his squad. The intrepid
leadership, indomitable courage, and fearless aggressiveness
displayed by S/Sgt. Ehlers in the face of overwhelming enemy
forces serve as an inspiration to others.
*MONTEITH,
JIMMIE W., JR.
Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant,
U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and
date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered
Service at: Richmond, Va. Born: 1 July 1917, Low Moor, Va.
G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond
the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer,
France. 1st Lt. Monteith landed with the initial assault waves
on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard
to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down
the beach reorganizing men for further assault. He then led
the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the
flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff.
Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved
over to where 2 tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent
enemy artillery and machinegun fire. Completely exposed to
the intense fire, 1st Lt. Monteith led the tanks on foot through
a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction
several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his
company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous
position on the hill. Supervising the defense of his newly
won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued
to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the
200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen
links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in
completely surrounding 1st Lt. Monteith and his unit and while
leading the fight out of the situation, 1st Lt. Monteith was
killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid
leadership displayed by 1st Lt. Monteith is worthy of emulation.
*PEREGORY,
FRANK D.
Rank and Organization: Technical Sergeant,
U.S. Army, Company K 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Grandcamp France, 8 June 1944. Entered Service
at: Charlottesville, Va. Born. 10 April 1915, Esmont, Va.
G.O. No.: 43, 30 May 1945.
Citation:
On 8 June 1944, the 3d Battalion of the 116th Infantry was
advancing on the strongly held German defenses at Grandcampe,
France, when the leading elements were suddenly halted by
decimating machinegun fire from a firmly entrenched enemy
force on the high ground overlooking the town. After numerous
attempts to neutralize the enemy position by supporting artillery
and tank fire had proved ineffective, T/Sgt. Peregory, on
his own initiative, advanced up the hill under withering fire,
and worked his way to the crest where he discovered an entrenchment
leading to the main enemy fortifications 200 yards away. Without
hesitating, he leaped into the trench and moved toward the
emplacement. Encountering a squad of enemy riflemen, he fearlessly
attacked them with handgrenades and bayonet, killed 8 and
forced 3 to surrender. Continuing along the trench, he single-handedly
forced the surrender of 32 more riflemen, captured the machine
gunners, and opened the way for the leading elements of the
battalion to advance and secure its objective. The extraordinary
gallantry and aggressiveness displayed by T/Sgt. Peregory
are exemplary of the highest tradition of the armed forces.
*PINDER,
JOHN J., JR.
Rank and Organization: Technician Fifth
Grade, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered
service at: Burgettstown, Pa. Birth: McKees Rocks, Pa. G.O.
No.: 1, 4 January 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond
the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer,
France. On D-day, Technician 5th Grade Pinder landed on the
coast 100 yards off shore under devastating enemy machinegun
and artillery fire which caused severe casualties among the
boatload. Carrying a vitally important radio, he struggled
towards shore in waist-deep water. Only a few yards from his
craft he was hit by enemy fire and was gravely wounded. Technician
5th Grade Pinder never stopped. He made shore and delivered
the radio. Refusing to take cover afforded, or to accept medical
attention for his wounds, Technician 5th Grade Pinder, though
terribly weakened by loss of blood and in fierce pain, on
3 occasions went into the fire-swept surf to salvage communication
equipment. He recovered many vital parts and equipment, including
another workable radio. On the 3rd trip he was again hit,
suffering machinegun bullet wounds in the legs. Still this
valiant soldier would not stop for rest or medical attention.
Remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire, growing steadily weaker,
he aided in establishing the vital radio communication on
the beach. While so engaged this dauntless soldier was hit
for the third time and killed. The indomitable courage and
personal bravery of Technician 5th Grade Pinder was a magnificent
inspiration to the men with whom he served.
WHITTINGTON,
HULON B.
Rank and Organization: Sergeant, U.S.
Army, 41st Armored Infantry 2d Armored Division. Place and
Date Near Grimesnil, France, 29 July 1944. Entered Service
at: Bastrop, La. Born: 9 July 1921, Bogalusa, La. G.O. No.:
32, 23 April 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life
above and beyond the call of duty. On the night of 29 July
1944, near Grimesnil, France, during an enemy armored attack,
Sgt. Whittington, a squad leader, assumed command of his platoon
when the platoon leader and platoon sergeant became missing
in action. He reorganized the defense and, under fire, courageously
crawled between gun positions to check the actions of his
men. When the advancing enemy attempted to penetrate a roadblock,
Sgt. Whittington, completely disregarding intense enemy action,
mounted a tank and by shouting through the turret, directed
it into position to fire pointblank at the leading Mark V
German tank. The destruction of this vehicle blocked all movement
of the remaining enemy column consisting of over 100 vehicles
of a Panzer unit. The blocked vehicles were then destroyed
by handgrenades, bazooka, tank, and artillery fire and large
numbers of enemy personnel were wiped out by a bold and resolute
bayonet charge inspired by Sgt. Whittington. When the medical
aid man had become a casualty, Sgt. Whittington personally
administered first aid to his wounded men. The dynamic leadership,
the inspiring example, and the dauntless courage of Sgt. Whittington,
above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the
highest traditions of the military service.