General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

GENERAL OBOmS WAR DEPARTMENT
NO. 71 WASHING TO^ 28, D. C., 17 July 1946
Section
MEDAL OW HONOR-Pasthomaoa awards -----------.----------------.--.
I
D:3TINGUISHED-SERVICE A d . . I1
SILVER T A R - d I11
SILVER STAR (OAK-LEAF CLUSTER)-Posthumous award IV
SILVER STAR (OAK LEAF CLUSTI3R)-Award .-.--.-------------.-.-....--
V
LEGION OB MERIT-Posthumo~s awards VI
LEGION OF MERIT-Awards - VII
LEGION OF MERIT [OAK-LIOAF CLC'STER)-AW~~~S .-.---....-....-----..-
VIII
BRONZE STAR MEDAL (OAK-LEAF CLUSTI3R)-Resc1ssion of award.-.------- IX
I.-MEDAL OF HONOR.-By direction of the President, under the provisions
of the act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (WD Bul. 43, 1018), a Medal of
Hmor for ConSpicu~a~ gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty was awardcd posthumouslg by the War Department in
the name of Congress to the followmg-Gmed enlisted men:
Private First Class John U. Maoroth (Army serial No. 31320858). radio
operator, Company G, 85th Infantry Regiment, Army of the United States, on
14 April 1945, displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond
the call of duty when his company was pinned down bg heavy artillery, mortar,
and small-arms flre near Castel d'Aiano, Italy. Volunteering to act as a scout,
armed with only a rifle, he charged headlong into withering Ere, killing two
Germans and wounding three, in order to capture a machine gun. Carrying tbis
enemy weapon across an open fleld through heavy Ere, he neutralized two more
machinogun nests. He then circlcd behind four other Germans, killing them
with a burst as they were flring on his company. Spotting another dangerous
enemy posltiou to his right, he kneeled with the machine gun in his arms and
exchanged fire with the Germans until he bud killed two and wounded three
The enemy now poured increased mortar and artillery flre on the company's
newly won pasitlon. Private Mapath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the
shelling in order to collect a report of casualties. Carrying out thi~ task
heroically he made the supreme sacrifice--a climax to valor and courage and in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Sergeant Harold 0. Nessersohmidt (Army serial No. 33778438), Company 4
30th Infantry Regiment. Army of the United States, on 17 September 1944 nsar
Radden, Prance, displayed consplcuaus gallantry and Intrepidity above and
beyond the all of duty. Braving maebinegun, machine-pistol, and rifle 61%
he moved fearlessly and calmly from man to man aloog hls 40-yard squad front,
encoumging each to hold against the overwhelminp assault of a fanatleal foe
surging up the hillside. Knocked to the ground by a burst from an enemy automatic
weapon, he immediately jumped to his feet, ignoring his grave wound%
fired hls submachine gun at the enemy, which was now upon them, killing eve
and wounding many others before his ammunition was spent Virtually SUP
rounded by a frenzied foe and all of his sanad now casualties. he elected tpfieht
on alone, ;sing his empty submachine gun as a bludgeon against his ass%&.
Spotting one of the enemy about to kill a wounded comrade, he felled the German
with a blow of his weapon. Seeing friendly reinforcements running up the hill,
he contlnned furiously to wield his empty gun agalnat the foe in a new attack, and
it was thus that he made the supreme saerifici fighting 111s way dem hto the
euew line. Bergeant Yessersohrntdfr sustained heroism in hand-to-hand nrmbat
with superior enemy forces was in keeping with the highest traditions of the
military swke.