Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private First Class

Unit:

Company B, 303rd Engineer Battalion, 78th Infantry Division "Lightning", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

February 20th, 1945

By direction of the President, under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, 22 September 1943, as amended, the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to Private First Class James A. Geske, 39474418, (then Private) Corps of Engineers, Company B, 303rd Engineer Battalion, for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on 6 February in the vicinity of .. in Germany.

Two pillboxes were holding up the advance of the infantry in the vicinity of ..., Germany. Supporting tank destroyers were called upon to knock out the points of resistance, but were stopped by Tellermines. Private First Class Geske, a member of an attached engineer detail, volunteered to remove the mine obstacle. In direct observation of the two pillboxes, he ran from protective cover and attached rope to the handles of the mines. A tangle in the rope made necessary for him to go out the second time before the mines could be removed. His heroic actions effected the removal of the mines and permitted the tank destroyers to continue on their mission and are in accordance with the highest military traditions.

- Headquarters, 78th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 43 (20 February, 1945).