BURR, HERBERT H.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 41st Tank
Battalion, 11th Armored Division. Place and date: Near Dorrmoschel, Germany, 19
March 1945. Entered service at: Kansas City, Mo. Birth: St. Joseph, Mo. G.O.
No.: 73, 30 August 1945.
Citation:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry during action when the tank in which he was bow gunner
was hit by an enemy rocket, which severely wounded the platoon sergeant and forced the
remainder of the crew to abandon the vehicle. Deafened, but otherwise unhurt, S/Sgt. Burr
immediately climbed into the driver's seat and continued on the mission of entering the
town to reconnoiter road conditions. As he rounded a turn he encountered an 88-mm.
antitank gun at pointblank range. Realizing that he had no crew, no one to man the tank's
guns, he heroically chose to disregard his personal safety in a direct charge on the
German weapon. At considerable speed he headed straight for the loaded gun, which was
fully manned by enemy troops who had only to pull the lanyard to send a shell into his
vehicle. So unexpected and daring was his assault that he was able to drive his tank
completely over the gun, demolishing it and causing its crew to flee in confusion. He then
skillfully sideswiped a large truck, overturned it, and wheeling his lumbering vehicle,
returned to his company. When medical personnel who had been summoned to treat the wounded
sergeant could not locate him, the valiant soldier ran through a hail of sniper fire to
direct them to his stricken comrade. The bold, fearless determination of S/Sgt. Burr, his
skill and courageous devotion to duty, resulted in the completion of his mission in the
face of seemingly impossible odds.
