Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant (Sergeant-Major)

Unit:

Company M, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division "Red Bull", U.S. Army (Company M, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division "Red Bull", U.S. Army)

Robert Rooney, 20709718, Staff Sergeant, Company M, 135th Infantry, for extraordinary heroism in action. On 8 November 1942, in the city of Algiers, Algeria, Staff Sergeant Rooney distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy. The troops which had landed in the city were ordered to withdraw because of heavy opposition. Staff Sergeant Rooney’s group had to pass a street intersection which was under heavy machine gun fire from two directions. After passing the intersection himself, Staff Sergeant Rooney saw Private Lawrence Fonder receive a wound and fall in the danger area. With utter disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Rooney went back, and under heavy fire carried Private Fonder to cover. His action probably saved the life of his comrade at great actual risk of his own.

Allied Force Headquarters, General Orders No. 29 (1942).