Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

A Company, 59th Armored Infantry Battalion, 13th Armored Division, U.S. Army

Fighting in Kemper Germany, 13 April 1945: “After billeting in Dunnwald Germany, Company A led the entire Combat Command “B” Column, departing at 1400. It was Friday the 13 th of April and the full significance of the date was to be revealed by 1700 when the casualty figures proved the company had suffered more casualties since its inception. The approach to Kemper Germany was relatively quiet .... Sniper fire was directed at the column from the cupalo of a barn and 1 st Sergeant Edwin F. Lyons raked the building with a .50 caliber machine gun and the firing ceased.”

1. “Mention should be made at this point of the service of First Sergeant Edwin F. Lyons during this encounter. Acting as a liaison between Capt. Ford and the rear elements, he made numerous trips between the town and and the supporting platoons, while under intense enemy fire. For the valuable service he rendered in Kemper recommendations have been forwarded for his decoration.

For his effort, Sergeant Lyons was awarded the Bronze Star Medal: a United States decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for acts of heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.