BEYER, ARTHUR O.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S.
Army, Company C, 603d Tank Destroyer Battalion. Place and date: Near Arloncourt,
Belgium, 15 January 1945. Entered service at: St. Ansgar, lowa. Born: 20
May 1909, Rock Township, Mitchell County, lowa. G.O. No.: 73, 30 August 1945.
Citation:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry in action. His platoon, in which he was a
tank-destroyer gunner, was held up by antitank, machinegun, and rifle fire from enemy
troops dug in along a ridge about 200 yards to the front. Noting a machinegun position in
this defense line, he fired upon it with his 76-mm. gun killing 1 man and silencing the
weapon. He dismounted from his vehicle and, under direct enemy observation, crossed open
ground to capture the 2 remaining members of the crew. Another machinegun, about 250 yards
to the left, continued to fire on him. Through withering fire, he advanced on the
position. Throwing a grenade into the emplacement, he killed 1 crewmember and again
captured the 2 survivors. He was subjected to concentrated small-arms fire but, with great
bravery, he worked his way a quarter mile along the ridge, attacking hostile soldiers in
their foxholes with his carbine and grenades. When he had completed his self-imposed
mission against powerful German forces, he had destroyed 2 machinegun positions, killed 8
of the enemy and captured 18 prisoners, including 2 bazooka teams. Cpl. Beyer's intrepid
action and unflinching determination to close with and destroy the enemy eliminated the
German defense line and enabled his task force to gain its objective.
