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Contact Info
Home Town Clinton, Washington
Last Address Vancouver, Washington
Date of Passing Nov 28, 1979
Location of Interment Willamette National Cemetery (VA) - Portland, Oregon
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Near Altavilla, Italy, September 13, 1943, when his company attacked a German position he led his platoon forward on the right flank hill where it got pinned down by a heavy of machinegun and rifle fire. Ordering his men to give covering fire, with 3 hand grenades, he crept and crawled forward to a German machinegun position located in a terrace along the forward slope. Approaching within a few yards of the position, and exposed to enemy fire, he hurled 1 grenade into the nest, destroyed the gun and killed 3 Germans. Discovering a second machinegun 20 yards to the right on a higher terrace, he moved under enemy fire to within a few yards and threw a second grenade into this position, destroying it and killing 2 more Germans. His platoon was then able to advance 150 yards further up the crest of the hill, but was again stopped by enemy mortar fire on the reverse slope. He located the mortar position and worked his way to within 10 yards of its position and threw his third grenade, destroying the mortar, killing 2 of the Germans, and forcing the remaining 3 to flee. His actions permitted the platoon to take its objective.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Rome-Arno Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
January / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description (Rome-Arno Campaign 22 January to 9 September 1944) U.S. 5th Army advanced 150 miles to the Arno River. The unsuccessful attempt to break the Gustav Line on 22 January was followed by another unsuccessful effort in March when the infantry failed to push through after bombers had endeavored to open the line at Monte Cassino. Allied air power then began a vigorous campaign against railroads, highways, and shipping that supported German forces in Italy. With supply lines strangled, the Germans could not repulse the new drive launched by the Allies in May. German resistance crumbled. By 4 June 1944 the Allies had taken Rome. But the advance ground to a halt against a new defensive line the enemy established along the Arno River.