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Tangborn, Virgil J.

Date of death:
June 14th, 1944 (Manche department, Basse-Normandie, France)
Buried on:
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
Plot: E. Row: 25. Grave: 20.
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Private First Class Virgil J. Tangborn and two other men rescued a wounded driver of an ammunition truck that had been hit by a shell and set on fire. Another shell killed Tangborn as he was helping save the driver.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private First Class
Unit:
Military band, 90th Infantry Division "Tough 'Ombres", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
July 2nd, 1944
"For gallantry in action in northern France while serving with the 90th Infantry Division. On 14 June 1944 the field in which an artillery ammunition dump was located was heavily shelled. The ammunition dump was set on fire and during the ensuing explosions, Private First Class Tangborn, seeing a wounded soldier trapped in a burning truck which was filled with exploding ammunition, hurried to the truck accompanied by two other enlisted men to affect the rescue of the wounded man. At that point Private First Class Tangborn was mortally wounded by enemy shell fire."

Headquarters, 90th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 21
Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Sources

Photo