General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

G~nmnr. OKUEns WAR DEPARTMENT
NO. 60 WASHInGTOiY 24 D. C., 26 June 1946
Sectfan
MEDAL OF HONO&Aaards ............................................. I
DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE CROSS-Posthumous nmrd ..................... I1
SILVER STAR-Posthumous awards ....................................... I1I
S I R ST IV
LEGION ~~ OF ~ MERIT-Posthumons ~ - awards ~~
....... V
LEG103 OF MERIT-Awards ............................................. TI. VII
......................
LEGIOS OF XERIT IOAK-LEAF CLUSTXIO-Awards VIII
BRONZE STIR MEDAL (OAK~LEAF CLUSTER)-Awards ................... IX
LEGION OF MERIT--Rescission of award .................................. S
DISTINGUISAED-FLYING CROSSCorrection in general orders .............. XI
BRONZE STAR MED.41--Correetiens in gencrsl orders ....................... XI1
ILMEDAL OF HONOR.-By direction of the President, under the provisions
of the act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (WD Bul. 43, 1!318), a Xedal of
Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty was awarded by the War Department in thc name of
Congress to the following-named enlisted men:
Technical Sergeant John Mea~her (Army serial No. 32261405). Infantry, Army
of the United States, as acting platoon leader, Company E, 305th Infantry
Regiment on 19 June 1945, near Ozato. Okinawa, in an attack agalnst enemy
bunkers and machine-gun nests, displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty. In the heat of the fight. he mounted an assault
tank and, with bullets splattering about him, designated targets Lo the gunner.
Seeing an cncmy soldier carrying an explosive charge dash for the tank treads,
he shouted fire orders to the gunner, leaped from the tank, and bayoneted the
charging soldier. Knocked unconscious and his rifle destroyed, hc regained eon-
SC~OUSU~SS, secured a machine gun from the tank, and began a furinus one-man assault
on the enemy. Firing Pram his hip, moving through vidous cross-fire, which
ripped through his clothing, he charged the nearest pillbox, killing six. Going
on amid the hail of bullets and grenades, he dashed for a second enemy gun,
running out of ammunition just as he reached the pisltion. He grasped his
empty machine gun by the barrel and, in a violent onslaught, killed the crew.
By his fearless assaults, Sergeant Meagher, single-handedly broke the enemy resistance,
enabling his platoon to take its objective and continue the advance.
Sergeant AZejandro Renteria Ruiz (Army serial No. 38442412) (then Prlvate
First Class), Company A, lBjthInfautry Regiment, Army of the United States,
on 28 April 1945 at Okinawa, when his unit was stopped by a skilfully eamouflaged
enemy pillbox, displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and
beyond the call of duty. His squad, suddenly brought under a hail of mdchinogun
flre and a vicious grenade attack, was pinned down. Jumping to his feet,
Private Ruiz seized an automatic rlfie and lunged through the flying grenades,
rifie and automatic fire, for the top of the emplacement. An enemy soldier
charged him an? his rifle jammed. Undaunted, be whirled on the assailant
and clubbed him dawn. He then ran back through bullets and grenades, seized
more ammunition and another automatic rifle, and again made for the pillbox.
Enemy fire was now concentrated on him, but he charged an, miraculously
reaching the pisition and, in plain view, climbed to the top. Leaping from
one opening to another, he sent burst after burst into the pillbox, killing 12
of the enemy and completely destroying the position. I'rivate Ruiz' heroic
conduct, in the face of overwhelming odds, saved the lives of many comrades
and eliminated an obstacle which would have lung checked his unit's advance.
AGO 4081B-June 686323'46