Medal of Honor Recepient

Robert E. Roeder
Captain
Company G, 350th Infantry Regiment

Place and date: Mt. Battaglia, Italy, 27-28 Sep 44
Entered service at: Summit Station, Pennsylvania
Birth: Summit Station, Pennsylvania
G.O. No.: 31, 17 April 1945

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Roeder commanded his company in defense of the strategic Mount Battaglia. Shortly after the company had occupied the hill, the Germans launched the first of a series of determined counterattacks to regain this dominating height. Completely exposed to ceaseless enemy artillery-and small arms fire, Captain Roeder constantly circulated among his men, encouraging them and directing their defense against the persistent enemy. During the sixth counterattack, the enemy, by using flamethrowers and taking advantage of the fog, succeeded in overrunning the position. Captain Roeder led his men in a fierce battle at close quarters, to repulse the attack with heavy losses to the Germans. The following morning, while the company was engaged in repulsing an enemy counterattack in force, Captain Roeder was seriously wounded and rendered unconscious by shell fragments. He was carried to the company command post, where he regained consciousness. Refusing medical treatment, he insisted on rejoining his men. Although in a weakened condition, Captain Roeder dragged himself to the door of the command post and, picking up a rifle, braced himself in a sitting position. He began firing his weapon, shouted words of encouragement, and issued orders to his men. He personally killed two Germans before he himself was killed instantly by an exploding shell. Through Captain Roeder's able and intrepid leadership his men held Mount Battaglia against the aggressive and fanatical enemy attempts to retake this important and strategic height. His valorous performance is exemplary of the fighting spirit of the U.S. Army.

Medal of Honor Recepient

Charles W. Shea
Second Lieutenant
Company F, 350th Infantry Regiment

Place and Date: Near Mount Damiano, Italy, 12 May 44
Entered Service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth: New York, NY.
G.O. No.: 4, 12 January 1945

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on 12 May 1944, near Mount Damiano, Italy. As 2d Lt. Shea and his company were advancing toward a hill occupied by the enemy, 3 enemy machineguns suddenly opened fire, inflicting heavy casualties upon the company and halting its advance. 2d Lt. Shea immediately moved forward to eliminate these machinegun nests in order to enable his company to continue its attack. The deadly hail of machinegun fire at first pinned him down, but, boldly continuing his advance, 2d Lt. Shea crept up to the first nest. Throwing several hand grenades, he forced the 4 enemy soldiers manning this position to surrender, and disarming them, he sent them to the rear. He then crawled to the second machinegun position, and after a short fire fight forced 2 more German soldiers to surrender. At this time, the third machinegun fired at him, and while deadly small arms fire pitted the earth around him, 2d Lt. Shea crawled toward the nest. Suddenly he stood up and rushed the emplacement and with well-directed fire from his rifle, he killed all 3 of the enemy machine gunners. 2d Lt. Shea's display of personal valor was an inspiration to the officers and men of his company.

Distinguished Unit Citation

3rd Battalion
351st Infantry Regiment

9 - 13 July 1944
Vicinity of Laiatico, Italy

The 3rd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period 9 to 13 Jnly 1944 in the vicinity of Laiatico, Italy. During the attack on strongly fortified German positions in the vicinity of Laiatico, the 3rd Battalion occupied an advanced position devoid of cover and with both flanks exposed, and for three days withstood heavy enemy artillery and mortar bombardments as well as three vicious enemy counterattacks supported by tanks. Displaying courage, skill, and determined fighting spirit, the battalion frustrated all enemy efforts to defend the town and surrounding strategic positions. On the fourth day, the battalion launched a night attack and penetrated the German stronghold from the flanks and rear. Aggressively exploiting its breakthrough, the battalion seized a German regimental command post after a savage hand-to-hand struggle in the darkness and cut the main escape route from the Laiatico hill mass. As a result of the 3rd Battalion's prodigious efforts, 425 prisoners were taken, 250 Germans were killed or wounded, and a large quantity of enemy weapons were captured which were promptly employed with telling effect against the battered German forces. The timely capture of this key enemy defensive position compelled the Germans to abandon a carefully prepared, strongly defended line and opened the route of advance to the Arno River. The fearlessness, heroic determinations and aggressive lighting spirit of the officers and men of the 3rd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, resulted in a performance which brings honor to the armed forces of the United States.

Distinguished Unit Citation

2nd Battalion
350th Infantry Regiment

27 September - 3 October 1944
Mt. Battaglia, Italy

The 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry Regiment is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period 27 September to 3 October 1944 at Mt. Battaglia, Italy. The 2nd Battalion was assigned the mission of seizing and holding strategic Mt. Battaglia. For seven days, in the face of incessant and violent counterattacks by powerful enemy forces, which at times included elements of four divisions, this battalion clung tenaciously to its positions on the objective. Each attack was preceded by artillery and mortar barrages and climaxed by bitter fire fights, use of flamethrowers by the enemy, hand-to-hand combat, bayonet charges, and grenade duels. The gallant officers and men of this battalion repulsed each attack with a marked display of fighting ability and teamwork. Evacuation of the wounded was extremely difficult because of the inclement weather conditions, the nature of the terrain, and the fact that the enemy artillery firing from the front and both flanks, covered every route of approach to Mt. Battaglia with a hail of fire. Nevertheless, all casualties were promptly evacuated by teams of litter bearers who courageously transported the wounded for long distances through artillery barrages to a point in the rear where further evacuation could be carried on by ambulances. All supplies were brought to the battalion's positions by pack mules supplemented by carrying parties. On several occasions the ammunition supply became dangerously low, and when the men exhausted their hand grenades, they resorted to throwing rocks at the oncoming enemy. Though fighting under the most adverse battle conditions, the officers and men of this battalion displayed an indomitable spirit that refused to waver under the fiercest enemy attacks. The outstanding fighting ability and magnificent courage displayed by the 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry Regiment are exemplary of the finest traditions of the Army of the United States.

Distinguished Unit Citation

2nd Battalion
351st Infantry Regiment

27 September - 1 October 1944
Mt.Capello, Italy

The 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period The battalion was assigned the mission of wresting the strategically important Mt.Capello from a determined and numerically superior German force. In the face of a withering hail of fire from all types of weapons, the 2nd Battalion launched its attack down the barren, forward slopes of Mt.Guasteto, Italy, eliminating a strong reverse slope German position in four violent assaults characterized by bitter fire fights and vicious hand-to-hand grenade duels. Although outnumbered, the soldiers of this organization maintained their captured position, despite ruthless enemy counterattacks preceded by intense artillery and mortar barrages. Although suffering from severe losses and confronted by fanatical enemy resistance, the courageous officers and men of the 2nd Battalion again resumed a full scale offensive and, advancing by infiltration, neutralizing resistance by furious hand-to-hand fighting within the German positions, gained a foothold on the barren slopes of Mt. Capello. Setting a commendable example of coolness and efficiency in the face of great danger, the 2nd Battalion fought grimly, tenaciously maintaining its foothold, despite the murderous enemy fire and wave after wave of fresh enemy assault troops. In a notable display of combat skill, teamwork, and determination, the men of the 2nd Battalion, because of a shortage of ammunition, resorted to using captured German machine guns and grenades to meet the enemy onslaughts. Utilizing personnel from battalion headquarters as riflemen, because of its heavily depleted effective strength, the battalion, in a final all-out assault, drove the enemy from Mt. Capello, retaining this strategic terrain feature, despite final desperate enemy counterattacks. The timely capture of this key enemy position frustrated violent enemy efforts to hold terrain of vital importance. A dangerous enemy penetration between the 351st Infantry Regiment and another hard-pressed infantry regiment on the right was averted by the heroic determination, self-sacrifice, and unfailing devotion to duty of the officers and men of the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment. The valorous performance of the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, reflects great credit on the personnel of the regiment and upon the armed forces of the United States.