Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division "Pathfinder", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

February 26th, 1946

"Pfc. Wetzel, an acting squad leader with the Antitank Company of the 13th Infantry, was guarding his platoon's command post in a house at Birken, Germany, during the early morning hours of 3 April 1945, when he detected strong enemy forces moving in to attack. He ran into the house, alerted the occupants and immediately began defending the post against heavy automatic weapons fire coming from the hostile troops. Under cover of darkness the Germans forced their way close to the building where they hurled grenades, 2 of which landed in the room where Pfc. Wetzel and the others had taken up firing positions. Shouting a warning to his fellow soldiers, Pfc. Wetzel threw himself on the grenades and, as they exploded, absorbed their entire blast, suffering wounds from which he died. The supreme gallantry of Pfc. Wetzel saved his comrades from death or serious injury and made it possible for them to continue the defense of the command post and break the power of a dangerous local counterthrust by the enemy. His unhesitating sacrifice of his life was in keeping with the U.S. Army's highest traditions of bravery and heroism."

Awarded posthumously

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division "Pathfinder", U.S. Army

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division "Pathfinder", U.S. Army

This award was obtained in the form of an Oak Leave to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.