3rd Platoon, Company C, 614th Tank Dest. Bat.

Awarded on: April 11th, 1945
Action:
Citation:
"The 3d. Platoon, Company C, 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy on 14 December 1944 in the vicinity of Climbach, France. The 3d PIatoon was an element of a task force whose mission was to storm and capture the strategically important town of Climbach, France, on the approaches of the Siegfried Line. Upon reaching the outskirts of the town, the task force was halted by a terrible hail of fire from an enemy force firmly entrenched in the surrounding woods and hills overlooking the route of approach. The only position available for direct fire upon the enemy was an open field. As the 3d Platoon moved into position, its commander and several men were wounded. Undeterred by heavy enemy small-arms, mortar and artillery fire, which was now being directed against their position, the men of the 3d. Platoon valiantly set up their 3-inch guns and delivered accurate and deadly fire into the enemy positions. Casulties were mounting; two of their four guns were knocked out; nevertIleless the remaining crew members heroically assisted in the loading and firing of the other guns.
At the height of the battle, enemy infantry converged on the position from the surrounding woods, threatening to wipe out the platoon's position. While a few members of the gun crews remained firing the 3-inch guns, others manned machine guns and individual weapons, laying down a devastating curtain of ilre which inflicted numerous casualties on the enemy and successfully repulsed the attack. Durlng the firefight an ammunltion shortage developed, and gun crews were reduced to skeleton size, one man loading, aiming and firing while the other men repeatedly traveled a distance of 50 yards through a hail of mortar and small-arms fire to obtain shells from a half-track which had been set on fire by a direct hit from an enemy mortar shell. Heedless of possible injury men cuntinuously exposed temselves to enemy fire to render first aid to the wounded. In this engagement, although the platoon suffered over 50 percent casualties and lost considerable materiel, its valorous conduct, in the face of overwhelming odds, enabled the task force to capture its objective. The grim determination, the indomitable fighting spirit, and the esprit de corps displayed by all members of the 3d. Platoon, Company C, 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion, reflect the highest traditions of the armed forces of the United States."
Details:
General Orders 141, Headquarters 7th Army (11 April 1945).