Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant (Second-lieutenant)

Unit:

Company A, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division "Red Bull", U.S. Army

William O. Sporbert, 0-1292414, Second Lieutenant, Company A, 135th Infantry Regiment. For extraordinary heroism in action, on 13 October 1943, near ***, Italy. In darkness and while under enemy artillery fire, Second Lieutenant Sporbert led his platoon in placing a guide rope across the swiftly flowing, treacherous Volturno River to enable the remainder of his battalion to cross. After two unsuccessful attempts, the guide rope was firmly secured, and Second Lieutenant Sporbert led the advance across the river. Running into an area thickly planted with anti-personnel, concussion mines, he accidentally stepped on a mine and was blown bodily into the river. He was wounded and temporarily blinded from the shock. Upon receiving first aid, however he set out to rejoin his platoon which by this time had moved forward. Enroute to his unit he paused to aid a wounded soldier and again accidentally exploded a mine. Although seriously wounded, Second Lieutenant Sporbert requested that other soldiers be treated before receiving first aid himself. His courage and determination to carry on despite his wounds inspired his platoon to greater effort in taking its objective. Entered military service from Mattituck, Long Island, New York.