Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

105th Anti-Tank Battery, 3rd Canadian Anti-tank Regiment, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On the morning of the 30th March 1945 at Emmerich, K15513 Sergeant Darrow Gomez was NCO i/c a 17 pounder self-propelled Valentine gun which was a part of a troop of the 105th Canadian Anti Tank Battery in support of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. The enemy had determinedly counter-attacked the position during the previous night and with daylight came the knowledge that self-propelled guns had been brought up to support these attacks. These enemy guns had assumed a most aggressive role and were rapidly rendering untenable the area occupied by a company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Since they were deployed on high ground and at short range, any movement on the part of our infantry was extremely hazardous.
At approximately 1100 hrs Sergeant Gomez pin-pointed the location of enemy gun after performing a reconnaissance under rifle and machine gun fire. Sergeant Gomez then manoeuvred his 17 pounder Valentine gun into a favourable position and succeeded in knocking out the enemy self-propelled equipment. Not content with this one success, Sergeant Gomez immediately commenced another reconnaissance in the company of "D" company commander of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. After considerable time, they located the position of another enemy self-propelled gun which was pinning down an entire company of our infantry. Notwithstanding the fact that the infantry company commander was killed at his side and the driver of his own equipment had become severely wounded, Sergeant Gomez fearlessly commenced to advance his gun to a suitable position. Although his own gun was twice hit by enemy shell-fire this NCO attained his objective and laying the gun himself, destroyed the enemy self-propelled equipment with one round.
Shortly after this incident, a strong enemy fighting patrol attacked the position occupied by Sergeant Gomez. Although his gun was clearly exposed to this party of enemy, and at very short range, he unhesitatingly manned the machine-gun mounted on his equipment and brought fire to bear on the infantry. One of the enemy patrol was consequently killed, seven were taken prisoner and the remainder forced to retire.
Throughout these actions, Sergeant Gomez displayed magnificent leadership and absolute disregard for his own personal safety. There is no doubt that the example he set enabled our infantry, despite heavy casualties, to hold this vital area in face of spirited enemy counter attacks.