Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

Company M, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe", U.S. Army (Company M, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe", U.S. Army)

Corporal Homer A. Gettler, 35581239, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Jallaucourt, France, on 30 September 1944. During the course of a strong enemy counterattack, the enemy penetrated the main line of resistance of the First Battalion, 134th Infantry, and forced the crew of an 81mm mortar section to withdraw. Members of this mortar section attached themselves to an adjoining rifle company and carried on the fight with small arms. Corporal Gettler, a mortar gunner, realizing his ineffectiveness in the fire fight inasmuch as he was armed only with a pistol, remained with the rifle company long enough to determine the center of enemy activity, then returned to his mortar position accompanied by another member of his section. He was killed by enemy action as he reached the position, but his companion carried out their pre-arranged plan and placed accurate mortar fire upon enemy positions which resulted in the destruction of an enemy machine gun nest and reduction of enemy pressure in the area.
Entered military service from Indiana.


Posthumously awarded.
Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 49 (1 November 1944).

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

Company M, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe", U.S. Army