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DAHLGREN, EDWARD
C.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant (then
Sergeant), U.S. Army, Company E, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Oberhoffen, France, 11 February 1945. Entered service
at: Portland, Maine. Birth: Perham, Maine. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September
1945.
Citation: He led the 3d Platoon to the rescue
of a similar unit which had been surrounded in an enemy counterattack
at Oberhoffen, France. As he advanced along a street, he observed several
Germans crossing a field about 100 yards away. Running into a barn,
he took up a position in a window and swept the hostile troops with
submachine gun fire, killing 6, wounding others, and completely disorganizing
the group. His platoon then moved forward through intermittent sniper
fire and made contact with the besieged Americans. When the 2 platoons
had been reorganized, Sgt. Dahlgren continued to advance along the street
until he drew fire from an enemy-held house. In the face of machine
pistol and rifle fire, he ran toward the building, hurled a grenade
through the door, and blasted his way inside with his gun. This aggressive
attack so rattled the Germans that all 8 men who held the strongpoint
immediately surrendered. As Sgt. Dahlgren started toward the next house,
hostile machinegun fire drove him to cover. He secured rifle grenades,
stepped to an exposed position, and calmly launched his missiles from
a difficult angle until he had destroyed the machinegun and killed its
2 operators. He moved to the rear of the house and suddenly came under
the fire of a machinegun emplaced in a barn. Throwing a grenade into
the structure, he rushed the position, firing his weapon as he ran;
within, he overwhelmed 5 Germans. After reorganizing his unit he advanced
to clear hostile riflemen from the building where he had destroyed the
machinegun. He entered the house by a window and trapped the Germans
in the cellar, where he tossed grenades into their midst, wounding several
and forcing 10 more to surrender. While reconnoitering another street
with a comrade, he heard German voices in a house. An attack with rifle
grenades drove the hostile troops to the cellar. Sgt. Dahlgren entered
the building, kicked open the cellar door, and, firing several bursts
down the stairway, called for the trapped enemy to surrender. Sixteen
soldiers filed out with their hands in the air. The bold leadership
and magnificent courage displayed by Sgt. Dahlgren in his heroic attacks
were in a large measure responsible for repulsing an enemy counterattack
and saving an American platoon from great danger.
DALESSONDRO, PETER J.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company
E, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kalterherberg,
Germany, 22 December 1944. Entered service at: Watervliet, N.Y. Born:
19 May 1918, Watervliet, N.Y. G.O. No.: 73, 30 August, 1945.
Citation: He was with the 1st Platoon holding
an important road junction on high ground near Kalterherberg, Germany,
on 22 December 1944. In the early morning hours, the enemy after laying
down an intense artillery and mortar barrage, followed through with
an all-out attack that threatened to overwhelm the position. T/Sgt.
Dalessondro, seeing that his men were becoming disorganized, braved
the intense fire to move among them with words of encouragement. Advancing
to a fully exposed observation post, he adjusted mortar fire upon the
attackers, meanwhile firing upon them with his rifle and encouraging
his men in halting and repulsing the attack. Later in the day the enemy
launched a second determined attack. Once again, T/Sgt. Dalessondro,
in the face of imminent death, rushed to his forward position and immediately
called for mortar fire. After exhausting his rifle ammunition, he crawled
30 yards over exposed ground to secure a light machinegun, returned
to his position, and fired upon the enemy at almost pointblank range
until the gun jammed. He managed to get the gun to fire 1 more burst,
which used up his last round, but with these bullets he killed 4 German
soldiers who were on the verge of murdering an aid man and 2 wounded
soldiers in a nearby foxhole. When the enemy had almost surrounded him,
he remained alone, steadfastly facing almost certain death or capture,
hurling grenades and calling for mortar fire closer and closer to his
outpost as he covered the withdrawal of his platoon to a second line
of defense. As the German hordes swarmed about him, he was last heard
calling for a barrage, saying, "OK, mortars, let me have it--right in
this position!" The gallantry and intrepidity shown by T/Sgt. Dalessondro
against an overwhelming enemy attack saved his company from complete
rout.
DALY, MICHAEL J.
Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant), U.S. Army,
Company A, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Nuremberg,
Germany, 18 April 1945. Entered service at: Southport, Conn. Born: 15
September 1924, New York, N.Y. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945.
Citation: Early in the morning of 18 April 1945,
he led his company through the shell-battered, sniper-infested wreckage
of Nuremberg, Germany. When bl1stering machinegun fire caught his unit
in an exposed position, he ordered his men to take cover, dashed forward
alone, and, as bullets whined about him, shot the 3-man guncrew with
his carbine. Continuing the advance at the head of his company, he located
an enemy patrol armed with rocket launchers which threatened friendly
armor. He again went forward alone, secured a vantage point and opened
fire on the Germans. Immediately he became the target for concentrated
machine pistol and rocket fire, which blasted the rubble about him.
Calmly, he continued to shoot at the patrol until he had killed all
6 enemy infantrymen. Continuing boldly far in front of his company,
he entered a park, where as his men advanced, a German machinegun opened
up on them without warning. With his carbine, he killed the gunner;
and then, from a completely exposed position, he directed machinegun
fire on the remainder of the crew until all were dead. In a final duel,
he wiped out a third machinegun emplacement with rifle fire at a range
of 10 yards. By fearlessly engaging in 4 single-handed fire fights with
a desperate, powerfully armed enemy, Lt. Daly, voluntarily taking all
major risks himself and protecting his men at every opportunity, killed
15 Germans, silenced 3 enemy machineguns and wiped out an entire enemy
patrol. His heroism during the lone bitter struggle with fanatical enemy
forces was an inspiration to the valiant Americans who took Nuremberg.
DAMATO, ANTHONY PETER
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 28
March 1922, Shenandoah, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving
with an assault company in action against enemy Japanese forces on Engebi
Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, on the night of 1920 February
1944. Highly vulnerable to sudden attack by small, fanatical groups
of Japanese still at large despite the efficient and determined efforts
of our forces to clear the area, Cpl. Damato lay with 2 comrades in
a large foxhole in his company's defense perimeter which had been dangerously
thinned by the forced withdrawal of nearly half of the available men.
When 1 of the enemy approached the foxhole undetected and threw in a
hand grenade, Cpl. Damato desperately groped for it in the darkness.
Realizing the imminent peril to all 3 and fully aware of the consequences
of his act, he unhesitatingly flung himself on the grenade and, although
instantly killed as his body absorbed the explosion, saved the lives
of his 2 companions. Cpl. Damato's splendid initiative, fearless conduct
and valiant sacrifice reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S.
Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his comrades.
DAVID, ALBERT LEROY
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy. Born:
18 July 1902, Maryville, Mo. Accredited to: Missouri. Other Navy award:
Navy Cross with gold star.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached
to the U.S.S. Pillsbury during the capture of an enemy German submarine
off French West Africa, 4 June 1944. Taking a vigorous part in the skillfully
coordinated attack on the German U-505 which climaxed a prolonged search
by the Task Group, Lt. (then Lt. j.g.) David boldly led a party from
the Pillsbury in boarding the hostile submarine as it circled erratically
at 5 or 6 knots on the surface. Fully aware that the U-boat might momentarily
sink or be blown up by exploding demolition and scuttling charges, he
braved the added danger of enemy gunfire to plunge through the conning
tower hatch and, with his small party, exerted every effort to keep
the ship afloat and to ass1st the succeeding and more fully equipped
salvage parties in making the U-505 seaworthy for the long tow across
the Atlantic to a U.S. port. By his valiant service during the first
successful boarding and capture of an enemy man-o-war on the high seas
by the U.S. Navy since 1815, Lt. David contributed materially to the
effectiveness of our Battle of the Atlantic and upheld the highest traditions
of the U.S. Naval Service.
DAVILA,
RUDOLPH B.
Citation:
Staff Sergeant Rudolph B. Davila distinguished himself by extraordinary
heroism in action, on 28 May 1944, near Artena, Italy. During the offensive
which broke through the German mountain strongholds surrounding the
Anzio beachhead, Staff Sergeant Davila risked death to provide heavy
weapons support for a beleaguered rifle company. Caught on an exposed
hillside by heavy, grazing fire from a well-entrenched German force,
his machine gunners were reluctant to risk putting their guns into action.
Crawling fifty yards to the nearest machine gun, Staff Sergeant Davila
set it up alone and opened fire on the enemy. In order to observe the
effect of his fire, Sergeant Davila fired from the kneeling position,
ignoring the enemy fire that struck the tripod and passed between his
legs. Ordering a gunner to take over, he crawled forward to a vantage
point and directed the firefight with hand and arm signals until both
hostile machine guns were silenced. Bringing his three remaining machine
guns into action, he drove the enemy to a reserve position two hundred
yards to the rear. When he received a painful wound in the leg, he dashed
to a burned tank and, despite the crash of bullets on the hull, engaged
a second enemy force from the tank’s turret. Dismounting, he advanced
130 yards in short rushes, crawled 20 yards and charged into an enemy-held
house to eliminate the defending force of five with a hand grenade and
rifle fire. Climbing to the attic, he straddled a large shell hole in
the wall and opened fire on the enemy. Although the walls of the house
were crumbling, he continued to fire until he had destroyed two more
machine guns. His intrepid actions brought desperately needed heavy
weapons support to a hard-pressed rifle company and silenced four machine
gunners, which forced the enemy to abandon their prepared positions.
Staff Sergeant Davila's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are
in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect
great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
DAVIS, CHARLES W.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division. Place
and date: Guadalcanal Island, 12 January 1943. Entered service at: Montgomery,
Ala. Birth: Gordo, Ala. G.O. No.: 40, 17 July 1943.
Citation: For d1stinguishing himself conspicuously
by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty in action with the enemy on Guadalcanal Island. On
12 January 1943, Maj. Davis (then Capt.), executive officer of an infantry
battalion, volunteered to carry instructions to the leading companies
of his battalion which had been caught in crossfire from Japanese machineguns.
With complete disregard for his own safety, he made his way to the trapped
units, delivered the instructions, supervised their execution, and remained
overnight in this exposed position. On the following day, Maj. Davis
again volunteered to lead an assault on the Japanese position which
was holding up the advance. When his rifle jammed at its first shot,
he drew his pistol and, waving his men on, led the assault over the
top of the hill. Electrified by this action, another body of soldiers
followed and seized the hill. The capture of this position broke Japanese
resistance and the battalion was then able to proceed and secure the
corps objective. The courage and leadership displayed by Maj. Davis
inspired the entire battalion and unquestionably led to the success
of its attack.
DAVIS, GEORGE FLEMING
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 23 March 1911,
Manila, Philippine Islands. Accredited to: Philippine Islands. Other
Navy awards: Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer
of the U.S.S. Walke engaged in a detached mission in support of minesweeping
operations to clear the waters for entry of our heavy surface and amphibious
forces preparatory to the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine
Islands, 6 January 1945. Operating without gun support of other surface
ships when 4 Japanese suicide planes were detected flying low overland
to attack simultaneously, Comdr. Davis boldly took his position in the
exposed wings of the bridge and directed control to pick up the leading
plane and open fire. Alert and fearless as the Walke's deadly fire sent
the first target crashing into the water and caught the second as it
passed close over the bridge to plunge into the sea of portside, he
remained steadfast in the path of the third plane plunging swiftly to
crash the after end of the bridge structure. Seriously wounded when
the craft struck, drenched with gasoline and immediately enveloped in
flames, he conned the Walke in the midst of the wreckage; he rallied
his command to heroic efforts; he exhorted his officers and men to save
the ship and, still on his feet, saw the barrage from his guns destroy
the fourth suicide bomber. With the fires under control and the safety
of the ship assured, he consented to be carried below. Succumbing several
hours later, Comdr. Davis by his example of valor and his unhesitating
self-sacrifice, steeled the fighting spirit of his command into unyielding
purpose in completing a vital mission. He gallantly gave his life in
the service of his country.
DAY, JAMES
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a squad leader serving
with the Second Battalion, Twenty-Second Marines, Sixth Marine Division,
in sustained combat operations against Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukya
Islands from 14 to 17 May 1945. On the first day, Corporal Day rallied
his squad and the remnants of another unit and led them to a critical
position forward of the front lines of Sugar Loaf Hill. Soon thereafter,
they came under an intense mortar and artillery barrage that was quickly
followed by a ferocious ground attack by some forty Japanese soldiers.
Despite the loss of one-half of his men, Corporal Day remained at the
forefront, shouting encouragement, hurling hand grenades, and directing
deadly fire, thereby repelling the determined enemy. Reinforced by six
men, he led his squad in repelling three fierce night attacks but suffered
five additional Marines killed and one wounded, whom he assisted to
safety. Upon hearing nearby calls for corpsman assistance, Corporal
Day braved heavy enemy fire to escort four seriously wounded Marines,
one at a time, to safety. Corporal Day then manned a light machine gun,
assisted by a wounded Marine, and halted another night attack. In the
ferocious action, his machine gun was destroyed, and he suffered multiple
white phosphorous and fragmentation wounds. He reorganized his defensive
position in time to halt a fifth enemy attack with devastating small
arms fire. On three separated occasions, Japanese soldiers closed to
within a few feet of his foxhole, but were killed by Corporal Day. During
the second day, the enemy conducted numerous unsuccessful swarming attacks
against his exposed position. When the attacks momentarily subsided,
over 70 enemy dead were counted around his position. On the third day,
a wounded and exhausted Corporal Day repulsed the enemy's final attack,
killing a dozen enemy soldiers at close range. Having yielded no ground
and with more than 100 enemy dead around his position, Corporal Day
preserved the lives of his fellow Marines and made a significant contribution
to the success of the Okinawa campaign. By his extraordinary heroism,
repeated acts of valor, and quintessential battlefield leadership, Corporal
Day inspired the efforts of his outnumbered Marines to defeat a much
larger enemy force, reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding
the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval
Service.
DEALEY, SAMUEL DAVID
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 13 September
1906, Dallas, Tex. Appointed from: Texas. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross
with 3 Gold Stars, Silver Star Medal.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding
Officer of the U.S.S. Harder during her 5th War Patrol in Japanese-controlled
waters. Floodlighted by a bright moon and disclosed to an enemy destroyer
escort which bore down with intent to attack, Comdr. Dealey quickly
dived to periscope depth and waited for the pursuer to close range,
then opened fire, sending the target and all aboard down in flames with
his third torpedo. Plunging deep to avoid fierce depth charges, he again
surfaced and, within 9 minutes after sighting another destroyer, had
sent the enemy down tail first with a hit directly amidship. Evading
detection, he penetrated the confined waters off Tawi Tawi with the
Japanese Fleet base 6 miles away and scored death blows on 2 patrolling
destroyers in quick succession. With his ship heeled over by concussion
from the first exploding target and the second vessel nose-diving in
a blinding detonation, he cleared the area at high speed. Sighted by
a large hostile fleet force on the following day, he swung his bow toward
the lead destroyer for another "down-the-throat" shot, fired 3 bow tubes
and promptly crash-dived to be terrifically rocked seconds later by
the exploding ship as the Harder passed beneath. This remarkable record
of 5 vital Japanese destroyers sunk in 5 short-range torpedo attacks
attests the valiant fighting spirit of Comdr. Dealey and his indomitable
command.
DEBLANC, JEFFERSON JOSEPH
Rank and Organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Fighting
Squadron 112. Place and date: Off Kolombangara Island in the Solomons
group, 31 January 1943. Entered service at: Louisiana. Born: 15 February
1921, Lockport, La.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader
of a section of 6 fighter planes in Marine Fighting Squadron 112, during
aerial operations against enemy Japanese forces off Kolombangara Island
in the Solomons group, 31 January 1943. Taking off with his section
as escort for a strike force of dive bombers and torpedo planes ordered
to attack Japanese surface vessels, 1st Lt. DeBlanc led his flight directly
to the target area where, at 14,000 feet, our strike force encountered
a large number of Japanese Zeros protecting the enemy's surface craft.
In company with the other fighters, 1st Lt. DeBlanc instantly engaged
the hostile planes and aggressively countered their repeated attempts
to drive off our bombers, persevering in his efforts to protect the
diving planes and waging fierce combat until, picking up a call for
assistance from the dive bombers, under attack by enemy float planes
at 1,000 feet, he broke off his engagement with the Zeros, plunged into
the formation of float planes and disrupted the savage attack, enabling
our dive bombers and torpedo planes to complete their runs on the Japanese
surface disposition and withdraw without further incident. Although
his escort mission was fulfilled upon the safe retirement of the bombers,
1st Lt. DeBlanc courageously remained on the scene despite a rapidly
diminishing fuel supply and, boldly challenging the enemy's superior
number of float planes, fought a valiant battle against terrific odds,
seizing the tactical advantage and striking repeatedly to destroy 3
of the hostile aircraft and to disperse the remainder. Prepared to maneuver
his damaged plane back to base, he had climbed aloft and set his course
when he discovered 2 Zeros closing in behind. Undaunted, he opened fire
and blasted both Zeros from the sky in a short, bitterly fought action
which resulted in such hopeless damage to his own plane that he was
forced to bail out at a perilously low altitude atop the trees on enemy-held
Kolombangara. A gallant officer, a superb airman, and an indomitable
fighter, 1st Lt. DeBlanc had rendered decisive assistance during a critical
stage of operations, and his unwavering fortitude in the face of overwhelming
opposition reflects the highest credit upon himself and adds new luster
to the traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
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.
DEGLOPPER, CHARLES N.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Co. C,
325th Glider Infantry, 82d Airborne Division. Place and date: Merderet
River at la Fiere, France, 9 June 1944. Entered service at: Grand Island,
N.Y. Birth: Grand Island, N.Y. G.O. No.: 22, 28 February 1946.
Citation: He was a member of Company C, 325th
Glider Infantry, on 9 June 1944 advancing with the forward platoon to
secure a bridgehead across the Merderet River at La Fiere, France. At
dawn the platoon had penetrated an outer line of machineguns and riflemen,
but in so doing had become cut off from the rest of the company. Vastly
superior forces began a decimation of the stricken unit and put in motion
a flanking maneuver which would have completely exposed the American
platoon in a shallow roadside ditch where it had taken cover. Detecting
this danger, Pfc. DeGlopper volunteered to support his comrades by fire
from his automatic rifle while they attempted a withdrawal through a
break in a hedgerow 40 yards to the rear. Scorning a concentration of
enemy automatic weapons and rifle fire, he walked from the ditch onto
the road in full view of the Germans, and sprayed the hostile positions
with assault fire. He was wounded, but he continued firing. Struck again,
he started to fall; and yet his grim determination and valiant fighting
spirit could not be broken. Kneeling in the roadway, weakened by his
grievous wounds, he leveled his heavy weapon against the enemy and fired
burst after burst until killed outright. He was successful in drawing
the enemy action away from his fellow soldiers, who continued the fight
from a more advantageous position and established the first bridgehead
over the Merderet. In the area where he made his intrepid stand his
comrades later found the ground strewn with dead Germans and many machineguns
and automatic weapons which he had knocked out of action. Pfc. DeGlopper's
gallant sacrifice and unflinching heroism while facing unsurmountable
odds were in great measure responsible for a highly important tactical
victory in the Normandy Campaign.
DELEAU, EMILE, JR.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 142d Infantry,
36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Oberhoffen, France, 12 February
1945. Entered service at: Blaine, Ohio. Birth: Lansing, Ohio. G.O. No.:
60, 25 July 1945.
Citation: He led a squad in the night attack on
Oberhoffen, France, where fierce house-to-house fighting took place.
After clearing 1 building of opposition, he moved his men toward a second
house from which heavy machinegun fire came. He courageously exposed
himself to hostile bullets and, firing his submachine gun as he went,
advanced steadily toward the enemy position until close enough to hurl
grenades through a window, killing 3 Germans and wrecking their gun.
His progress was stopped by heavy rifle and machinegun fire from another
house. Sgt. Deleau dashed through the door with his gun blazing. Within,
he captured 10 Germans. The squad then took up a position for the night
and awaited daylight to resume the attack. At dawn of 2 February Sgt.
Deleau pressed forward with his unit, killing 2 snipers as he advanced
to a point where machinegun fire from a house barred the way. Despite
vicious small-arms fire, Sgt. Deleau ran across an open area to reach
the rear of the building, where he destroyed 1 machinegun and killed
its 2 operators with a grenade. He worked to the front of the structure
and located a second machinegun. Finding it impossible to toss a grenade
into the house from his protected position, he fearlessly moved away
from the building and was about to hurl his explosive when he was instantly
killed by a burst from the gun he sought to knock out. With magnificent
courage and daring aggressiveness, Sgt. Deleau cleared 4 well-defended
houses of Germans, inflicted severe losses on the enemy and at the sacrifice
of his own life aided his battalion to reach its objective with a minimum
of casualties.
DERVISHIAN, ERNEST H.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 34th Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered
service at: Richmond, Va. Birth: Richmond, Va. G.O. No.: 3, 8 January
1945.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, in
the vicinity of Cisterna, Italy. 2d Lt. Dervishian (then Tech. Sgt.)
and 4 members of his platoon found themselves far ahead of their company
after an aggressive advance in the face of enemy artillery and sniper
fire. Approaching a railroad embankment, they observed a force of German
soldiers hiding in dugouts. 2d Lt. Dervishian, directing his men to
cover him, boldly moved forward and firing his carbine forced 10 Germans
to surrender. His men then advanced and captured 15 more Germans occupying
adjacent dugouts. The prisoners were returned to the rear to be picked
up by advancing units. From the railroad embankment, 2d Lt. Dervishian
and his men then observed 9 Germans who were fleeing across a ridge.
He and his men opened fire and 3 of the enemy were wounded. As his men
were firing, 2d Lt. Dervishian, unnoticed, fearlessly dashed forward
alone and captured all of the fleeing enemy before his companions joined
him on the ridge. At this point 4 other men joined 2d Lt. Dervishian's
group. An attempt was made to send the 4 newly arrived men along the
left flank of a large, dense vineyard that lay ahead, but murderous
machinegun fire forced them back. Deploying his men, 2d Lt. Dervishian
moved to the front of his group and led the advance into the vineyard.
He and his men suddenly became pinned down by a machinegun firing at
them at a distance of 15 yards. Feigning death while the hostile weapon
blazed away at him, 2d Lt. Dervishian assaulted the position during
a halt in the firing, using a hand grenade and carbine fire, and forced
the 4 German crewmembers to surrender. The 4 men on the left flank were
now ordered to enter the vineyard but encountered machinegun fire which
killed 1 soldier and wounded another. At this moment the enemy intensified
the fight by throwing potato-masher grenades at the valiant band of
American soldiers within the vineyard. 2d Lt. Dervishian ordered his
men to withdraw; but instead of following, jumped into the machinegun
position he had just captured and opened fire with the enemy weapon
in the direction of the second hostile machinegun nest. Observing movement
in a dugout 2 or 3 yards to the rear, 2d Lt. Dervishian seized a machine
pistol. Simultaneously blazing away at the entrance to the dugout to
prevent its occupants from firing and firing his machinegun at the other
German nest, he forced 5 Germans in each position to surrender. Determined
to rid the area of all Germans, 2d Lt. Dervishian continued his advance
alone. Noticing another machinegun position beside a house, he picked
up an abandoned machine pistol and forced 6 more Germans to surrender
by spraying their position with fire. Unable to locate additional targets
in the vicinity, 2d Lt. Dervishian conducted these prisoners to the
rear. The prodigious courage and combat skill exhibited by 2d Lt. Dervishian
are exemplary of the finest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.
DIAMOND, JAMES H.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company
D, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry Division. Place and date: Mintal, Mindanao,
Philippine Islands, 814 May 1945. Entered service at: Gulfport, Miss.
Birth: New Orleans, La. G.O. No.: 23, 6 March 1946.
Citation: As a member of the machinegun section,
he displayed extreme gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the
call of duty . When a Japanese sniper rose from his foxhole to throw
a grenade into their midst, this valiant soldier charged and killed
the enemy with a burst from his submachine gun; then, by delivering
sustained fire from his personal arm and simultaneously directing the
fire of 105mm. and .50 caliber weapons upon the enemy pillboxes immobilizing
this and another machinegun section, he enabled them to put their guns
into action. When 2 infantry companies established a bridgehead, he
voluntarily assisted in evacuating the wounded under heavy fire; and
then, securing an abandoned vehicle, transported casualties to the rear
through mortar and artillery fire so intense as to render the vehicle
inoperative and despite the fact he was suffering from a painful wound.
The following day he again volunteered, this time for the hazardous
job of repairing a bridge under heavy enemy fire. On 14 May 1945, when
leading a patrol to evacuate casualties from his battalion, which was
cut off, he ran through a virtual hail of Japanese fire to secure an
abandoned machine gun. Though mortally wounded as he reached the gun,
he succeeded in drawing sufficient fire upon himself so that the remaining
members of the patrol could reach safety. Pfc. Diamond's indomitable
spirit, constant disregard of danger, and eagerness to assist his comrades,
will ever remain a symbol of selflessness and heroic sacrifice to those
for whom he gave his life.
DIETZ, ROBERT H .
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A,
38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division. Place and date:
Kirchain, Germany, 29 March 1945. Entered service at: Kingston, N.Y.
Birth: Kingston, N.Y. G.O. No.: 119, 17 December 1945.
Citation: He was a squad leader when the task
force to which his unit was attached encountered resistance in its advance
on Kirchain, Germany. Between the town's outlying buildings 300 yards
distant, and the stalled armored column were a minefield and 2 bridges
defended by German rocket-launching teams and riflemen. From the town
itself came heavy small-arms fire. Moving forward with his men to protect
engineers while they removed the minefield and the demolition charges
attached to the bridges, S/Sgt. Dietz came under intense fire. On his
own initiative he advanced alone, scorning the bullets which struck
all around him, until he was able to kill the bazooka team defending
the first bridge. He continued ahead and had killed another bazooka
team, bayoneted an enemy soldier armed with a panzerfaust and shot 2
Germans when he was knocked to the ground by another blast of another
panzerfaust. He quickly recovered, killed the man who had fired at him
and then jumped into waist-deep water under the second bridge to disconnect
the demolition charges. His work was completed; but as he stood up to
signal that the route was clear, he was killed by another enemy volley
from the left flank. S/Sgt. Dietz by his intrepidity and valiant effort
on his self-imposed mission, single-handedly opened the road for the
capture of Kirchain and left with his comrades an inspiring example
of gallantry in the face of formidable odds.
DOOLITTLE, JAMES H. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Brigadier General, U.S. Army. Air Corps. Place
and date: Over Japan. Entered service at: Berkeley, Calif. Birth: Alameda,
Calif. G.O. No.: 29, 9 June 1942.
Citation: For conspicuous leadership above the
call of duty, involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme
hazard to life. With the apparent certainty of being forced to land
in enemy territory or to perish at sea, Gen. Doolittle personally led
a squadron of Army bombers, manned by volunteer crews, in a highly destructive
raid on the Japanese mainland.
DOSS, DESMOND T.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical
Detachment, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date:
Near Urasoe Mura, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 29 April-21 May 1945. Entered
service at: Lynchburg, Va. Birth: Lynchburg, Va. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November
1945. Citation: He was a company aid man when
the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high As our
troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar
and machinegun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties
and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained
in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them 1 by 1
to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported
litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands. On 2 May, he exposed
himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200
yards forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and 2 days later
he treated 4 men who had been cut down while assaulting a strongly defended
cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within 8 yards of enemy
forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrades' wounds before
making 4 separate trips under fire to evacuate them to safety. On 5
May, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to
assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient
to a spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while artillery
and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma.
Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from a
cave, Pfc. Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet from the
enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards to safety while
continually exposed to enemy fire. On 21 May, in a night attack on high
ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of
his company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would
be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured
until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion
of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared
for his own injuries and waited 5 hours before litter bearers reached
him and started carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy
tank attack and Pfc. Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby,
crawled off the litter; and directed the bearers to give their first
attention to the other man. Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he
was again struck, this time suffering a compound fracture of 1 arm.
With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm
as a splint and then crawled 300 yards over rough terrain to the aid
station. Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination
in the face of desperately dangerous conditions Pfc. Doss saved the
lives of many soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th
Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the
call of duty.
DROWLEY, JESSE R.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Americal Infantry
Division. Place and date: Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 30 January
1944. Entered service at: Spokane, Wash. Birth: St. Charles, Mich. G.O.
No.: 73, 6 September 1944.
Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the
enemy at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 30 January 1944. S/Sgt. Drowley,
a squad leader in a platoon whose mission during an attack was to remain
under cover while holding the perimeter defense and acting as a reserve
for assaulting echelon, saw 3 members of the assault company fall badly
wounded. When intense hostile fire prevented aid from reaching the casualties,
he fearlessly rushed forward to carry the wounded to cover. After rescuing
2 men, S/Sgt. Drowley discovered an enemy pillbox undetected by assaulting
tanks that was inflicting heavy casualties upon the attacking force
and was a chief obstacle to the success of the advance. Delegating the
rescue of the third man to an assistant, he ran across open terrain
to 1 of the tanks. Signaling to the crew, he climbed to the turret,
exchanged his weapon for a submachine gun and voluntarily rode the deck
of the tank directing it toward the pillbox by tracer fire. The tank,
under constant heavy enemy fire, continued to within 20 feet of the
pillbox where S/Sgt. Drowley received a severe bullet wound in the chest.
Refusing to return for medical treatment, he remained on the tank and
continued to direct its progress until the enemy box was definitely
located by the crew. At this point he again was wounded by small arms
fire, losing his left eye and falling to the ground. He remained alongside
the tank until the pillbox had been completely demolished and another
directly behind the first destroyed. S/Sgt. Drowley, his voluntary mission
successfully accomplished, returned alone for medical treatment.
DUNHAM, RUSSELL E.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company
I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kayserberg,
France, 8 January 1945. Entered service at: Brighton Ill. Born: 23 February
1920, East Carondelet, Ill. G.O. No.: 37, 11 May 1945.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. At about 1430 hours
on 8 January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kayserberg, France,
T/Sgt. Dunham single-handedly assaulted 3 enemy machineguns. Wearing
a white robe made of a mattress cover, carrying 12 carbine magazines
and with a dozen hand grenades snagged in his belt, suspenders, and
buttonholes, T/Sgt. Dunham advanced in the attack up a snow-covered
hill under fire from 2 machineguns and supporting riflemen. His platoon
35 yards behind him, T/Sgt. Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct
fire toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machinegun.
As he jumped to his feet 10 yards from the gun and charged forward,
machinegun fire tore through his camouflage robe and a rifle bullet
seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him spinning 15 yards
down hill into the snow. When the indomitable sergeant sprang to his
feet to renew his 1-man assault, a German egg grenade landed beside
him. He kicked it aside, and as it exploded 5 yards away, shot and killed
the German machinegunner and assistant gunner. His carbine empty, he
jumped into the emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun
crew by the collar. Although his back wound was causing him excruciating
pain and blood was seeping through his white coat, T/Sgt. Dunham proceeded
50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire to attack the second
machinegun. Twenty-five yards from the emplacement he hurled 2 grenades,
destroying the gun and its crew; then fired down into the supporting
foxholes with his carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen.
Although his coat was so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a conspicuous
target against the white landscape, T/Sgt. Dunham again advanced ahead
of his platoon in an assault on enemy positions farther up the hill.
Coming under machinegun fire from 65 yards to his front, while rifle
grenades exploded 10 yards from his position, he hit the ground and
crawled forward. At 15 yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered
a few paces toward the timbered machinegun emplacement and killed the
crew with hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range,
but missed him. After killing the rifleman, T/Sgt. Dunham drove others
from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire. Killing 9 Germans--wounding
7 and capturing 2--firing about 175 rounds of carbine ammunition, and
expending 11 grenades, T/Sgt. Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded
a spectacular and successful diversionary attack.
DUNLAP, ROBERT. HUGO
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company
C, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. Place and date:
On Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 20 and 21 February 1945. Entered service
at: Illinois. Born: 19 October 1920, Abingdon, Ill.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding
officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division,
in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima
in the Volcano Islands, on 20 and 21 February, 1945. Defying uninterrupted
blasts of Japanese artillery. mortar, rifle and machinegun fire, Capt.
Dunlap led his troops in a determined advance from low ground uphill
toward the steep cliffs from which the enemy poured a devastating rain
of shrapnel and bullets, steadily inching forward until the tremendous
volume of enemy fire from the caves located high to his front temporarily
halted his progress. Determined not to yield, he crawled alone approximately
200 yards forward of his front lines, took observation at the base of
the cliff 50 yards from Japanese lines, located the enemy gun positions
and returned to his own lines where he relayed the vital information
to supporting artillery and naval gunfire units. Persistently disregarding
his own personal safety, he then placed himself in an exposed vantage
point to direct more accurately the supporting fire and, working without
respite for 2 days and 2 nights under constant enemy fire, skillfully
directed a smashing bombardment against the almost impregnable Japanese
positions despite numerous obstacles and heavy marine casualties. A
brilliant leader, Capt. Dunlap inspired his men to heroic efforts during
this critical phase of the battle and by his cool decision, indomitable
fighting spirit, and daring tactics in the face of fanatic opposition
greatly accelerated the final decisive defeat of Japanese countermeasures
in his sector and materially furthered the continued advance of his
company. His great personal valor and gallant spirit of self-sacrifice
throughout the bitter hostilities reflect the highest credit upon Capt.
Dunlap and the U.S. Naval Service.
DUTKO, JOHN W.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry
Division. Place and date: Near Ponte Rotto, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered
service at: Riverside, N.J. Birth: Dilltown, Pa. G.O. No.: 80, 5 October
1944.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on 23 May 1944, near
Ponte Rotto, Italy. Pfc. Dutko left the cover of an abandoned enemy
trench at the height of an artillery concentration in a single-handed
attack upon 3 machineguns and an 88mm. mobile gun. Despite the intense
fire of these 4 weapons which were aimed directly at him, Pfc. Dutko
ran 10.0 yards through the impact area, paused momentarily in a shell
crater, and then continued his l-man assault. Although machinegun bullets
kicked up the dirt at his heels, and 88mm. shells exploded within 30
yards of him, Pfc. Dutko nevertheless made his way to a point within
30 yards of the first enemy machinegun and killed both gunners with
a hand grenade. Although the second machinegun wounded him, knocking
him to the ground, Pfc. Dutko regained his feet and advanced on the
88mm. gun, firing his Browning automatic rifle from the hip. When he
came within 10 yards of this weapon he killed its 5-man crew with 1
long burst of fire. Wheeling on the machinegun which had wounded him,
Pfc. Dutko killed the gunner and his assistant. The third German machinegun
fired on Pfc. Dutko from a position 20 yards distant wounding him a
second time as he proceeded toward the enemy weapon in a half run. He
killed both members of its crew with a single burst from his Browning
automatic rifle, continued toward the gun and died, his body falling
across the dead German crew.
DYESS, AQUILLA JAMES
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
Reserve. Born: 11 January 1909, Augusta, Ga. Appointed from: Georgia.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding
Officer of the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines (Rein), 4th Marine Division,
in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Namur
Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, 1 and 2 February 1944. Undaunted
by severe fire from automatic Japanese weapons, Lt. Col. Dyess launched
a powerful final attack on the second day of the assault, unhesitatingly
posting himself between the opposing lines to point out objectives and
avenues of approach and personally leading the advancing troops. Alert,
and determined to quicken the pace of the offensive against increased
enemy fire, he was constantly at the head of advance units, inspiring
his men to push forward until the Japanese had been driven back to a
small center of resistance and victory assured. While standing on the
parapet of an antitank trench directing a group of infantry in a flanking
attack against the last enemy position, Lt. Col. Dyess was killed by
a burst of enemy machinegun fire. His daring and forceful leadership
and his valiant fighting spirit in the face of terrific opposition were
in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He
gallantly gave his life for his country.
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