Alcantar, Max L.

Date of birth:: December 14th, 1921 (Fresno/California, United States)
Date of death:: February 25th, 1945 (Ellen, Germany)
Buried on:: American War Graves Liberty Veterans Cemetery
Nationality:: American

Biography

PFC Max Alcantar was killed by rifle fire when he entered a house in Ellen. He was killed instantly.

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Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Private 1st Class
Unit:: Company K, 415th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division "Timberwolf", U.S. Army
Awarded on:: December 1st, 1944

"For gallantry in action in *** (Stolberg, Germany) on 18th November 1944.
During mid-afternoon of 18th of November 1944 Private Alcantar's company was ordered to withdraw from a small heavily wooded park. Enemy observation was very good and their mortar and artillery fire was very heavy. The plan was to withdraw in waves with leap-frog protection on the right flank. An active enemy machine gun was located to the rear of the company. Private Alcantar was in the first wave, and as they came abreast of the enemy machine gun position, it opened fire on them. Private Alcantar, who was an automatic rifleman, immediately engaged the enemy machine gunner by return fire.
This action required him to stand in an exposed position, both to the machine gunner and the heavy enemy mortar barrage which was being placed on them. Private Alcantar forced the silence of the enemy machine gun by this action and though wounded by shrapnel, maintained his position until his comrades had successfully withdrawn to an area of safety, after which he joined them. This heroic act in the face of heavy enemy fire from a fully exposed position greatly reflects the finest spirit of the American soldier."

Headquarters, 104th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 20