Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Intelligence & Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 394th Infantry regiment, 99th Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

1981

"Corporal (then Private First Class) William James (Tsakanikas), United States Army, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism against armed enemy forces at Lanzerath, Belgium, on December 16, 1944, while serving with the I&R platoon of the 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Division. Following a relentless early morning artillery barrage, Pfc Tsakanikas courageously volunteered to probe the enemy area to gather intelligence information. Returning later to the platoon position, he reported small arms fire nearby. Knowing an enemy attack was imminent, he moved with daring boldness to the most forward foxhole position. Soon two columns of German paratroopers were sighted marching on the road through Lanzerath about 200 yards from his position. Pfc Tsakanikas fearlessly engaged the enemy with devastating small arms fire inflicting many casualties. Throughout the day, he fired his weapon point-blank at the enemy and helped repel three separate frontal attacks despite being outnumbered fifteen to one. On the second attack, Pfc Tsakanikas left his foxhole and boldly manned an exposed .50 cal machine gun where he increased the hail of fire on the advancing enemy. As the third frontal attack began, he ran in the face of withering fire to a forward position where he placed effective point-blank “grease gun” fire on the enemy. During the fourth and final attack, Pfc Tsakanikas emptied his last rounds of ammunition at the enemy soldiers attacking from the rear. As he prepared to escape from the encirclement, a burst of automatic fire ripped through the right side of his face with the impact slamming him to the bottom of the foxhole where he was captured at gun point.Although seriously wounded, he continued to struggle until he finally passed out from loss of blood. Corporal James' courage and refusal to surrender despite insermountable odds were responsible for inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and delaying their advance for nearly 18 hours. Corporal James' heroic actions reflect great credit on him and the United States Army. (This award is authorized under the provisions of Public Law 96-145, dated 14 December 1979.)"

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 26 (1981). Posthumously awarded