appendix awards and decorations - The George C. Marshall ...

GENERAL ORDERS
No. 585
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH ARMY
WESTERN MILITARY DISTRICT
APO 758 US Army
EXTRACT
October 6, 1945
III-AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. By
direction of the President, under the provisions of Army Regulations
600-45 September 22, 1943 as amended the Distinguished Service
Cross is awarded by the Army Commander to the following named
individual:
First Lt. William E. Sullivan, 01325944, Infantry, 399th Infantry
Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on March 16, 1945 in
the vicinity of Bitche, France. After helping to reduce enemy resistance
emanating from two concrete pillboxes, Lieutenant Sullivan, a platoon
leader, advanced alone toward the fortifications. Observing two Germans
attempting an escape, he fired, killing one and wounding the
other. Then, holding a grenade in readiness, he continued toward the
encasement, and directed the enemy to surrender. When a German noncommissioned
officer emerged, Lieutenant Sullivan used him as a hostage
and advanced close to the entrance, repeating his directive. Eighty
enemy, including a battalion commander and his 5-officer staff surrendered.
Lieutenant Sullivan's heroic and inspiring single-handed
action accounted for one machine-gun nest, two enemy casualties, and
eighty prisoners. Entered military service from San Francisco,
California.
BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL KEYES:
JOHN M. WILLEMS,
Brigadier General, GSC,
Chief of Staff
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