Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Company M, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division "Century", U.S. Army (Company M, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division "Century", U.S. Army)

By direction of the President, under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, September 22, 1943, as amended, the Distinguished Service Cross awarded posthumously, by the Army Commander to the following named individual:
Pfc. Virgil J. Gooch, 35247219, Infantry, Company M, 398th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on April 4, 1945 in the vicinity of Heilbronn, Germany. Assigned the mission of crossing the Neckar River and securing the right bank, Private First Class Gooch, a member of a machine gun platoon supporting a rifle company, reached a railroad where he rapidly set up his machine gun on a bridge offering excellent fields of fire. At 0900 hours the enemy, under cover of intense artillery and mortar fire and supported by tanks, assaulted friendly positions and succeeded in cutting off forward elements. A limited withdrawal was ordered and Private First Class Gooch volunteered to cover the movement. Intrepidly maintaining his exposed position, he diverted the enemy attack by his accurate fire, killing fifteen of the enemy and wounding an unestimated number before he was killed.

Posthumously awarded.
Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 603 (11 October 1945).

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Company M, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division "Century", U.S. Army