Boyd, Tillman E.
- Date of birth:
- December 27th, 1904 (Cordell/Oklahoma, United States)
- Date of death:
- November 24th, 1992 (California, United States)
- Nationality:
- American
Biography
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Silver Star Medal (SSM)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Unit:
- 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division "Fighting Blue Devils", U.S. Army
- Awarded on:
- October 29th, 1944
Again on 8 October 1944, the battalion was ordered to seize and hold the high ground in the vicinity of San Apollinare, Italy. Throughout this entire attack Lieutenant Colonel BOYD remained at the head of his men, aggressively leading them through heavy enemy small arms fire and the ever present enemy mortar fire. On 9 October 1944, as his battalion was attacking Hill 375, Lieutenant Colonel BOYD again took his position in the lead of his men, and in addition to taking this enemy stronghold, succeeded in capturing 100 Germans. During this assault two enemy machine guns began to place such devastating fire upon the leading assault elements that further progress was impossible. With no thought for his personal safety, Lieutenant Colonel BOYD organized a group of six men and then worked his way forward to a position close to the nearest enemy gun. Half-encircling the emplacement which was well fortified and camouflaged, Lieutenant Colonel BOYD gave a pre-arranged signal and he his emen each tossed a grenade into the emplacement, knocking out the gun. As several of the enemy gunners who were still alive attempted to escape, Lieutenant Colonel BOYD fired several bursts from his tommy-gun, killing one and wounding two others. From his new position, he could observe the location of the remaining machine gun and quickly directed artillery fire on it silencing the gun. The gallant actions of Lieutenant Colonel BOYD on these occasions, saved many of his men from being wounded or killed, and enabled them to continue the aggressive attack upon their objectives.
Entered the military service from Cokevlle, Wyoming."
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Unit:
- 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division "Fighting Blue Devils", U.S. Army
- Awarded on:
- 1946
Original recommendation dated 30 January 1946:
"1.RECOMMENDATION: "I hereby recommend Tillman E. Boyd, 0-250041, Lt. Colonel, Infantry, for the Bronze Star for heroism in battle against the enemy near Castel Del Rio, Italy, on 25 Sept 1944.
2. HISTORY OF ACTION: "Lt. Col. Tillman E. Boyd, then commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry, 88th Division had bravely led his battalion in bitter combat in the North Apennines Campaign through very sever fighting, and at this particular point "G" Company had been held up and was suffering very heavy casualties from enemy counterattacks and heavy weapons. Col. Boyd led his remaining two combat companies ip a sheer rock cliff, slippery from nasty weather, to attack the enemy from their left flank and rear. He elected "F" Company to attack to relieve the hazardous position of "G" Company, leaving "E" Company in reserve. About 0330 hours, 25 Sept, 1944, the attack began. "F" Company lost their bearings in the rainy, foggy weather among the rugged mountains about one and one-half miles northwest of Castel Del Rio. Understanding the urgency of the situation and the value of minutes Col. Boys set out with only his eighteen-man command party (including six artillerymen and myself) and three Rangers from Battalion Headquarters located with "E" Company to find "F" Company and personally led the attack to save "G" Company. Before ever reaching "F" Company the command party, dispersed in skirmish fashion, ran head on into a full German rifle company-later determined to be fresh troops and sixty-two strong moving into position in a column. The weather was so murky in the early morning hours both groups did not see the other until we were fifteen yards apart. Both sides froze for a second, seeming an eternity, and then all hell broke loose. The German company immediately starting deploying in an effort to surround the party and fully used every weapon they had. Col. Boyd's command party scattered and fought back fiercely against overwhelming odds. Col. Boyd gathered a handful of his men and fought four hundred yards through the German encirclement to reach "E" Company's reserve position and brought them back to rescue the remainder of his staff, including myself and both the artillery liaison and forward observer parties minus the officer forward observer who had been evacuated because of wounds the preceding day.
In the ensuing engagement several Germans were killed, seven wounded and sixteen captured. The rest of the enemy company was so badly mauled it had lost its combat efficiency, resulting in our catching "F" Company and liberating "G" Company.
In making the breakthrough Col. Boyd showed utter disregard for his own safety and did not falter once even though he was wounded in the neck by enemy small arms at the time. His only consideration was to save his men from annihilation and get to the aid of "G" Company."
3. RESULTS OF COL. BOYD's ACTIONS: "We captured sixteen German prisoners, wounded seven more and killed several in addition to destroying the fighting strength of the German Company. His clear thinking and bravery prevented the enemy from occupying their positions to the rear of both "F" and "G" Companies and in the ultimate relief of "G" Company's pressing situation. His breakthrough to the reserve company definitely saved at least half of his command party from being either killed of captured."
4. WEATHER: Rainy, foggy coupled with a disagreeable temperature. Visibility limited to ten to twenty yards.
5. TERRAIN: Rugged mountains with many sheer rock cliffs, dotted with scrub trees.
6. MORALE OF AMERICAN TROOPS: Excellent
7. MORALE OF THE ENEMY: Excellent - fresh troops moved in for stopping American advances.
8. DECORATIONS AWARDED: Col. Boyd has been awarded the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Europe Africa Middle East Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars, American Theater Ribbon and Victory Ribbon.
9. ENTERED SERVICE: From Cokeville, Wyoming. His present address is War Department Personnel Center Headquarters, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
PAT G. COMBS
Capt., FA, AUS
Formerly:
Liaison Officer
913th FA Battalion
88th Division"
Original citation:
"Lieutenant Colonel Tillman E. Boyd, commanding the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry, 88th Division, distinghuished himself by heroic achievement on 25 September 1994 near Castel Del Rio, Italy. He set out with a small command party to reach a company which contact has been lost, and to lead an attack to relieve another company in bitter engagement with the enemy. Suddenly, when through the fog the party ran head-on into a full German rifle company moving into position, the men scattered and fought fiercely against overwhelming odds. Colonel Boyd gathered several of his men and together they fought four hundred yards through the German encirclement to reach a reserve company, returned with the unit, and in the ensuing engagement killed, captured and wounded most of the enemy forces. Colonel Boyd, by his personal courage and exceptional leadership, led the men in action that prevented the enemy from seizing important positions and made possible the completion of the difficult mission."
Details: With Combat "V" device
"1.RECOMMENDATION: "I hereby recommend Tillman E. Boyd, 0-250041, Lt. Colonel, Infantry, for the Bronze Star for heroism in battle against the enemy near Castel Del Rio, Italy, on 25 Sept 1944.
2. HISTORY OF ACTION: "Lt. Col. Tillman E. Boyd, then commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry, 88th Division had bravely led his battalion in bitter combat in the North Apennines Campaign through very sever fighting, and at this particular point "G" Company had been held up and was suffering very heavy casualties from enemy counterattacks and heavy weapons. Col. Boyd led his remaining two combat companies ip a sheer rock cliff, slippery from nasty weather, to attack the enemy from their left flank and rear. He elected "F" Company to attack to relieve the hazardous position of "G" Company, leaving "E" Company in reserve. About 0330 hours, 25 Sept, 1944, the attack began. "F" Company lost their bearings in the rainy, foggy weather among the rugged mountains about one and one-half miles northwest of Castel Del Rio. Understanding the urgency of the situation and the value of minutes Col. Boys set out with only his eighteen-man command party (including six artillerymen and myself) and three Rangers from Battalion Headquarters located with "E" Company to find "F" Company and personally led the attack to save "G" Company. Before ever reaching "F" Company the command party, dispersed in skirmish fashion, ran head on into a full German rifle company-later determined to be fresh troops and sixty-two strong moving into position in a column. The weather was so murky in the early morning hours both groups did not see the other until we were fifteen yards apart. Both sides froze for a second, seeming an eternity, and then all hell broke loose. The German company immediately starting deploying in an effort to surround the party and fully used every weapon they had. Col. Boyd's command party scattered and fought back fiercely against overwhelming odds. Col. Boyd gathered a handful of his men and fought four hundred yards through the German encirclement to reach "E" Company's reserve position and brought them back to rescue the remainder of his staff, including myself and both the artillery liaison and forward observer parties minus the officer forward observer who had been evacuated because of wounds the preceding day.
In the ensuing engagement several Germans were killed, seven wounded and sixteen captured. The rest of the enemy company was so badly mauled it had lost its combat efficiency, resulting in our catching "F" Company and liberating "G" Company.
In making the breakthrough Col. Boyd showed utter disregard for his own safety and did not falter once even though he was wounded in the neck by enemy small arms at the time. His only consideration was to save his men from annihilation and get to the aid of "G" Company."
3. RESULTS OF COL. BOYD's ACTIONS: "We captured sixteen German prisoners, wounded seven more and killed several in addition to destroying the fighting strength of the German Company. His clear thinking and bravery prevented the enemy from occupying their positions to the rear of both "F" and "G" Companies and in the ultimate relief of "G" Company's pressing situation. His breakthrough to the reserve company definitely saved at least half of his command party from being either killed of captured."
4. WEATHER: Rainy, foggy coupled with a disagreeable temperature. Visibility limited to ten to twenty yards.
5. TERRAIN: Rugged mountains with many sheer rock cliffs, dotted with scrub trees.
6. MORALE OF AMERICAN TROOPS: Excellent
7. MORALE OF THE ENEMY: Excellent - fresh troops moved in for stopping American advances.
8. DECORATIONS AWARDED: Col. Boyd has been awarded the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Europe Africa Middle East Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars, American Theater Ribbon and Victory Ribbon.
9. ENTERED SERVICE: From Cokeville, Wyoming. His present address is War Department Personnel Center Headquarters, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
PAT G. COMBS
Capt., FA, AUS
Formerly:
Liaison Officer
913th FA Battalion
88th Division"
Original citation:
"Lieutenant Colonel Tillman E. Boyd, commanding the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry, 88th Division, distinghuished himself by heroic achievement on 25 September 1994 near Castel Del Rio, Italy. He set out with a small command party to reach a company which contact has been lost, and to lead an attack to relieve another company in bitter engagement with the enemy. Suddenly, when through the fog the party ran head-on into a full German rifle company moving into position, the men scattered and fought fiercely against overwhelming odds. Colonel Boyd gathered several of his men and together they fought four hundred yards through the German encirclement to reach a reserve company, returned with the unit, and in the ensuing engagement killed, captured and wounded most of the enemy forces. Colonel Boyd, by his personal courage and exceptional leadership, led the men in action that prevented the enemy from seizing important positions and made possible the completion of the difficult mission."
Details: With Combat "V" device
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- - Delaney, J.P. – The Blue Devils in Italy – A History of the 88th Infantry Division in World War II, The Battery Press, Nashville, USA, 1988
- Campbell, J.P. (editor), History of the 351st Infantry Regiment in World War II, July 1942 to July 1945, 351st Infantry Regimental Information and Education Office, Printed in Italy (official electronic file)
- Original recommendations & citations, photographs of collection
Photo
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