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Whittington, Hulon Brocke "Rocky"

Date of birth:
July 9th, 1921 (Bogalusa/Louisiana, United States)
Date of death:
January 17th, 1969 (Toledo/Ohio, United States)
Buried on:
Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 13. Grave: 8W.
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Sergeant
Unit:
Company H, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division "Hell On Wheels", U.S. Army
For action performed on 27 July 1943 at Sicily, Italy.

Citation unavailable.
Silver Star Medal (SSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Sergeant
Unit:
Company H, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division "Hell On Wheels", U.S. Army
For being wounded on 27 July 1943 in Sicily, Italy.
Purple Heart
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Sergeant
Unit:
Company I, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division "Hell On Wheels", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
April 23rd, 1945
Awarded for:
Operation Overlord > Operation Cobra
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On the night of 29 July 1944, near Grimesnil, France, during an enemy armored attack, Sgt. Whittington, a squad leader, assumed command of his platoon when the platoon leader and platoon sergeant became missing in action. He reorganized the defense and, under fire, courageously crawled between gun positions to check the actions of his men. When the advancing enemy attempted to penetrate a roadblock, Sgt. Whittington, completely disregarding intense enemy action, mounted a tank and by shouting through the turret, directed it into position to fire pointblank at the leading Mark V German tank. The destruction of this vehicle blocked all movement of the remaining enemy column consisting of over 100 vehicles of a Panzer unit. The blocked vehicles were then destroyed by handgrenades, bazooka, tank, and artillery fire and large numbers of enemy personnel were wiped out by a bold and resolute bayonet charge inspired by Sgt. Whittington. When the medical aid man had become a casualty, Sgt. Whittington personally administered first aid to his wounded men. The dynamic leadership, the inspiring example, and the dauntless courage of Sgt. Whittington, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service."
Medal of Honor - Army (MoH)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Sergeant
Unit:
Company I, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division "Hell On Wheels", U.S. Army
For being wounded on 6 August 1944 at France.

Purple Heart

Sources

  • - Houston, D.E., Hell on Wheels – The 2d Armored Division, Presidio Press Inc., Novato, U.S.A., 1986
    - Author: U.S. Army, The combat history of the Second Infantry Division in World War II, The Battery Press, Nashville, USA, 2001
    - Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes – 433 men of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor 1941-1945, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996
    - 2ndarmoredhellonwheels.com
    - findagrave.com
    - rootsweb.ancestry.com

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