Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Company G, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 30th Infantry Division "Old Hickory", U.S. Army

Staff Sergeant Nello R. Arterburn, 35483685, (then Sergeant) 517th Parachute Infantry, United States Army, for heroic achievement in action. At approximately 1700 hours, 14 January 1945, the first platoon, Company G, 517th Parachute Infantry, was being held up in Beaumont, Belgium by small arms and mortar fire from enemy troops in a group of houses in front of the platoon position. Staff Sergeant Arterburn volunteered to lead a patrol in an attack to clear these houses. About 100 yards from the first house the patrol was pinned down by intense small arms fire. In order to eliminate this strong point, Staff Sergeant Arterburn, without hesitation and entirely alone, made a dash for a low stone wall about 25 yards from the house. Using this wall as a shield, he threw a hand grenade in a window of the house and when three enemy soldiers tried to leave, he shot all three. The rest of the patrol joined him at this time and successfully completed its mission. Entered the military service from Tompkinsville, Kentucky.