Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

Company A, 1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 13th Airborne Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

July 27th, 1945

First Lieutenant Henry R. Kleinendorst, 01305436, 517th Parachute Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action near Soy, Belgium, 25 December 1944. During an attack on a strong German position, First Lieutenant Kleinendorst and his two scouts were fired upon by an enemy rifleman. Rising to a kneeling position, First Lieutenant Kleinendorst fired, killing the enemy soldier. Advancing another seventy-five yards, the three men came upon a German machine gun delivering flanking fire in an attempt to break up the frontal attack. Unhesitatingly, First Lieutenant Kleinendorst led his scouts on the emplacement, knocking out one machine gun and killing two rifleman before being located by the enemy. Under a hail of small arms fire which knocked off his helmet and kicked up the ground about him, First Lieutenant Kleinendorst crawled back to his platoon and led it in an assault on the position. Working his way forward, he knocked out another machine gun with a hand grenade. Then, with utter disregard for his own safety, he led the platoon forward at a run. This bold action resulted in the capture of the objective. The enemy, completely routed, left twenty-three dead. First Lieutenant Kleinendorst demonstrated outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered the military service from Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Headquarters, 13th Airborne Division, General Orders No. 48 (27 July 1945).