Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Company E, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

March 17th, 1945

Citation:
"For gallantry in action on 2 February 1945, near Neuhof, Germany. Private First Class Tuthill, Bazooka Gunner, continually exposed himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire in order to bring forward his bazooka within 75 yards of an enemy pillbox against which he fired all available ammunition effectively. Private First Class Tuthill, upon expending all his bazooka ammunition, ran forward to within 25 yards of the pillbox and threw a Gammon grenade near the firing slit, which resulted in the surrender of five Germans. Private First Class Tuthill then retrieved his squad leader's tommy-gun, after he had been killed, and used it to its maximum of efficiency until this ammunition was also expended during a counterattack. He then took a Browning Automatic Rifle from a wounded gunner and continued to fire this, killing and wounding many of the enemy. Private First Class Tuthill's coolness and bravery under fire and versatile use of numerous weapons played a great part in the success of his company and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Airborne Forces."