Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 394th Infantry regiment, 99th Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

1981

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William L. Slape, Sergeant Major (then Technical Sergeant), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Platoon Sergeant, Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 16 December 1944, at Lanzerath, Belgium. Following a relentless early morning artillery barrage, Sergeant Major Slape volunteered to occupy an observation post in the village of Lanzerath vacated moments earlier by a friendly tank destroyer unit. Trapped on the second floor of the house by the advancing enemy forces, he fired at the enemy on the first floor of the house and escaped out the back door. Upon entering a wooded area, another enemy squad opened fire on him. Continually firing his weapon and advancing on the enemy position, he managed to kill the entire squad. As the then ran west across a road, enemy machine gun fire opened up on him, but he managed to return to the platoon position. Later, while occupying a foxhole, he fired his rifle at point-blank range at the enemy soldiers and helped repel three separate German frontal attacks. Twice he left his foxhole, exposing himself to enemy fire, to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a jeep. On this second occasion, enemy automatic weapons fire struck the machine gun knocking him to the ground with the force of the impact. He then eluded the enemy gunfire and returned to the foxhole. There, he continued to fire a .30 caliber light machine gun and his rifle at the enemy. Finally, out of ammunition and hopelessly outnumbered and surrounded by the enemy, he was overwhelmed and captured by the enemy forces at gun point. Sergeant Major Slape's extraordinary heroism and inspiring leadership against insurmountable odds were responsible for the platoon inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking enemy forces, thereby delaying their advance for 18 hours. Sergeant Major Slape's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 99th Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Home Town: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Department of the Army, GO 26, 1981.