Wood, Eric Fisher, Jr.

Date of birth:: January 25th, 1919 (Los Angeles/California, United States)
Date of death:: January 22nd, 1945 (near Meyerode/province of Liège, Belgium)
Buried on:: American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot: G. Row: 3. Grave: 46.
Service number:: 0 517 724
Nationality:: American

Biography

During fightings on December 17th, 1944 he became seperated from his unit and managed to join a resistance movement. With this unit he was killed in action on or about January 22nd, 1945.

In august 2020, Eric Fisher has been recommended to receive the Medal of Honor. The procedure is still inprocess.

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Ridder in de Leopoldsorde / Chevalier de l'Ordre de Léopold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 1st Lieutenant
Awarded on:: February 22nd, 1946

Awarded posthumously.
Received with gold palme.
Royal Decree No. 1921

Ridder in de Leopoldsorde / Chevalier de l'Ordre de Léopold

Croix de Guerre 1940

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 1st Lieutenant
Awarded on:: February 22nd, 1946

Awarded posthumously.
Received with palme.
Royal Decree No. 1921.

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 1st Lieutenant
Unit:: Battery A, 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division "Golden Lions" U.S. Army (Battery A, 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division "Golden Lions" U.S. Army)
Awarded on:: January 30th, 1947

For action performed on 17 December 1944, near Schönberg, Arrondissement of Verviers, Belgium.

Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Executive Officer of Battery A, 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 17 December 1944 to 22 January 1945, near Schonberg, Belgium. Lieutenant Wood's section, the rear element of the withdrawing battalion, was cut off and completely surrounded, his vehicle was destroyed by enemy tank fire, and hostile infantry covered the surrounding area with a hail of small-arms fire. Refusing to surrender, as enemy fire converged on him from all sides, he raced across a large open field into the woods beyond. Cut off from all possibility of returning to his own lines, far inside enemy territory in the Ardennes wilderness in the dead of winter, he rejected any temptation to surrender. Not content to maintain his liberty behind the enemy lines, on company with several other Americans in the area, he repeatedly initiated ambush attacks against enemy communications, supply columns, and patrols, accounting for the deaths of scores of the foe. Valiantly, Lieutenant Wood continued his offensive action until finally in a last fierce engagement with overwhelming forces he made the supreme sacrifice, where later his body was found surrounded by the bodies of seven of the enemy, mute testimony to the daring, the loyalty, and the intrepid gallantry of Lieutenant Wood in the service of his country. First Lieutenant Wood's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 106th Infantry Division, and the United States Army."

General Orders No. 14, War Department (January 30, 1947).
Awarded posthumously.