Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Mortar Platoon, Company C, 31st Tank Battalion, 7th Armored Division "Lucky Seventh", U.S. Army (Mortar Platoon, Company C, 31st Tank Battalion, 7th Armored Division "Lucky Seventh", U.S. Army)

Staff Sergeant Cecil H. Brown (Army Serial Number 6927111), Infantry, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by gallantry in action on 17 August 1944, in the area of Chartres, France. In the attack on the key city of Chartres, the mortar platoon of S Sgt. Brown's unit was given the mission of covering the advance of the assault elements. An effort was made to establish an observation post on the crest of a hill in a grain field, but the party was halted by small arms fire from enemy riflemen dug-in underneath the wheat shocks. S Sgt. Brown, who had been left behind to organize the mortar platoon, observed hostile fire and hastened to the aid of the beleaguered observation post. Without hesitation he advanced across the open wheat field in the face of small arms fire and effectively hurled his grenades at the German positions.
S Sgt. Brown's swift and courageous action against an entrenched enemy aided the establishment of a vital observation post, and facilitated the swift advance of a combat team in the attack on Chartres.

Headquarters, 7th Armored Division, General Orders No. 42 (8 September 1944).