Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division "Tough 'Ombres", U.S. Army (3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division "Tough 'Ombres", U.S. Army)

Lieutenant Colonel Jacob W. Bealke, Jr., 0305 676, Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, United States Army.
For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. On 10 July 1944, Lt. Colonel Bealke, commanding the 3rd Battalion, 358 Infantry, 90 Infantry Division, with 6 men of his battalion headquarters was advancing through the dense under growth of the Foret De Mont Castre, France, between his two assault companies. The Battalion mission was to clear the forest of the enemy. After advancing some 400 yards into the forest approximately 20 paratroopers from the elite 5th German Parachute Division, attacked fanatically, screaming, throwing hand grenades and firing machine pistols. Colonel Bealke, killed two of the enemy with hand grenades, wounded a third and took two others prisoner. The enemy formation broke. A second German group then attacked from the right flank, but Colonel Bealke killed two with his pistol, one falling at his feet. Twenty additional soldiers arrived as reinforcement just before a third enemy group attacked from the rear of Colonel Bealke's group. Of the 3rd attacking party 3 were killed, 8 taken prisoner and the remainder disappeared.
Colonel Bealke then continued advancing through the forest. About 200 yards deeper into the timber three enemy grenade launcher teams opened fire. Colonel Bealke wounded the German officer commanding the position, and the rest of his Detachment killed, wounded or dispersed the enemy crews. Receiving word by radio, that a company of enemy infantry, in column, was proceeding across his front, Colonel Bealke with an Artillery observer and one wireman swung to the left to reach high ground for observation. The observer was wounded and wireman killed. Colonel Bealke laid his own wire line to the observation point and from their directed artillery fire against the enemy column for more than an hour until it was destroyed or dispersed. Throughout this action Colonel Bealke was under heavy mortar and small arms fire. From the observation post he ordered by radio the reorganization and employment of his Battalion and directed the completion of the mission – occupation of the woods.
Through the extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership and dogged determination, in spite of heavy casualties among his officers and men, Colonel Bealke led his men to a brilliant victory, one of the most outstanding in the operations of his Division in Normandy. His actions were in the highest traditions of the military service of United States.

Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 10 (1945).