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Billingslea, Charles E. - Citation: Charles Billingslea
(O-20367), Colonel (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations against an armed enemy while
serving as Commanding Officer, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82d
Airborne Division, in action against the enemy on 2-3 October 1944,
in the vicinity of Katerbosch, Holland. Through fearless and skillful
leadership, Colonel (then Lieutenant Colonel) Billingslea inspired
victory for his regiment in a battle for objectives two miles beyond
the forward lines near Mook. Leading troops who were tired after five
days of incessant attack, he pushed the enemy back in a twenty-four
hour assault. He launched the attack before dawn and under cover of fog
which lifted without warning in mid-morning and exposed his forces to
intense artillery fire. Key officers and men became casualties, but
Colonel Billingslea moved among the disorganized company, restored
command and assumed the initiative in the face if determined resistance
from numerous German strongpoints in Katerbosch. He personally directed
the house-to-house reduction of the enemy. His presence in this
critical zone inspired officers and men to emulate his conduct in a
fight for the town which lasted all day and through the night. In this
valiant and successful assault on Katerbosch, Colonel Billingslea
defeated powerful German efforts to break through Mook and sever the
Allied corridor in the Motherland.
Billingslea, Charles E. - Citation:
Colonel Charles Billingslea, O-20367, 325th Glider Infantry, United
States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy on
February 2, 1945, in Germany. Colonel Billingslea fearlessly exposed
himself to intense enemy small arms, mortar, and artillery fire to
direct his command's assault against Siegfried Line fortifications. When
elements of his regiment were pinned to the ground by fierce crossfire,
he advanced to the area and personally directed his command in
thwarting the hostile thrust. During a second vicious counterattack, he
proceeded to his reserve battalion, directed the committment of his
reserves and repulsed the counter-attack. By his display of conspicuous
courage and selfless devotion to duty, Colonel Billingslea was
instrumental in saving a vital position and insuring the continued
success of his regiment. Entered military service from California.
Geach, James L. -
Citation: Private First Class James L. Geach, 325th Glider Infantry,
United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action against the
enemy on 5 July 1944, in France. When an enemy tank accompanied
by a force of infantry penetrated his company's position, Private First
Class Geach seized a rocket launcher, though he had never handled one
before, and ran to the hedgerow alongside the road on which the tank
was traveling. As the tank moved along with its guns in action it
drove everyone within radius of its fire to cover. From his
position in the hedgerow, Private First Class Geach fired several
rockets at the tank and forced it to retreat. The enemy
accompanying the tank took shelter in the hedgerow. Private First
Class Geach attacked these men with his rifle and killed four of
them. Shortly thereafter the enemy developed a strong
counterattack. Friendly tanks were moved up. Private First
Class Geach voluntarily led the tanks on foot, despite intense enemy
fire directed at him, into position. The personal bravery,
initiative, and gallantry exhibited by Private First Class Geach
reflects great credit on himself and the Armed Forces. Entered
miltary service from Wisconsin.
Kinsey, Paul S. - First
Lieutenant Paul S. Kinsey, 325th Glider Infantry, United States Army,
for extraordinary heroism in action on 9 June 1944, near Amfreville,
France. In the early morning hours, First Lieutenant Kinsey (then
Second Lieutenant) and his company had become engaged at close quarters
with an enemy artillery unit supported with infantry. While his
platoon was pinned down by flanking automatic weapons fire, First
Lieutenant Kinsey, although limping badly from a leg wound, stepped
into a road swept by fire, presonally halted, and then engaged an enemy
truck of reinforcements which was closing in along the road toward his
platoon. The assistant driver of the truck opened fire with a
submachine gun. First Lieutenant Kinsey, in spite of this fire,
moved quickly forward, seized the barrel of the submachine gun, and
dropped a greande into the cab of the truck, setting it on fire and
destroying the driver and his assistant. Although knocked back by
the explosion, First Lieutenant Kinsey, hearing cries and movement in
the rear of the truck, recovered his and completed the destruction of
the truck and the remainderof its occupants with a rifle grenade.
First Lieutenant Kinsey's act kept open a route of maneuver for his
platoon and enabled his unit to inflict additional damage on the
enemy. In perofrming this act, First Lieutenant Kinsey
exemplified the highest traditions of the service. Entered
military service from Ohio.
Lewis, Harry L. - Citation: Unavailable
Myers, Joseph F. - Citation: First Lieutenant Joseph F.
Myers, 01301865, Infantry, United States Army. For extraordinary
heroism in action on 30 September 1944, while his company was attacking
through the Kiekberg Woods about two and one half miles south of
Groesbeek, Holland, personally led his machine gun section which had
the assignment of giving supporting fire to the advance of the 1st and
2nd rifle platoons. An enemy pocket of resistance consisting of five
men armed with a machine gun, machine pistols, and grenades surprised
Lieutenant Myers and five men near him by tossing a grenade at the
group. The first grenade missed, a second one was tossed and landed in
the midst of Lieutenant Myers' group. Upon seeing the grenade
Lieutenant Myers yelled, "Grenade, duck!" Realizing that the entire
group might be killed or wounded, he without hesistancy threw himself
upon the grenade in an attempt to protect his men. The exploding
grenade mortally wounded Lieutenant Myers, but his men escaped injury.
This demonstration of willingness to make the supreme sacrifice that
others might live to fight for a just cause reflects the highest
traditions of the Army of the United States. Entered military service
from Frederica, Delaware.
Sanford, Teddy H.. - Citation: Unavailable
Swenson, John H. - Citation: Unavailable
Terry, Dewitt S. - Citation: Unavailable
Wason, Donald B. -
Citation: Second Lieutenant Donald B. Wason, Infantry, United States
Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on 9 June 1944 in
Normandy. Second Lieutenant Wason, commanding a rifle platoon of
a glider infantry regimet, led the initial charge across the bridge and
causeway over the Merderet River. The assault was launched in the
face of heavy cross-fire from enemy machine guns nested in emplacements
at the western end of the causeway. Setting an example of
exemplary courage and initiative, Second Lieutenant Wason raced over
the causeway and headed for the nearest machine gun nest. He
wiped it out with grenades, and in the performance of this heroic
action was killed by an enemy rifleman. His intrepidity set an
example for others to parallel in the winning of the bridgehead in one
of the bitterest battles fought during the early phase of the
liberation. Entered military service from Connecticut. |
