*CAREY, ALVIN P.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant,
U.S. Army, 38th Infantry, 2-t Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Plougastel,
Brittany, France, 23 August 1944. Entered service at: Laughlinstown, Pa. Born:
16 August 1916, Lycippus, Pa. G.O. No.: 37, 11 May 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the
call of duty, on 23 August 1944. S/Sgt. Carey, leader of a machinegun section, was
advancing with his company in the attack on the strongly held enemy hill 154, near
Plougastel, Brittany, France. The advance was held up when the attacking units were pinned
down by intense enemy machinegun fire from a pillbox 200 yards up the hill. From his
position covering the right flank, S/Sgt. Carey displaced his guns to an advanced position
and then, upon his own initiative, armed himself with as many hand grenades as he could
carry and without regard for his personal safety started alone up the hill toward the
pillbox. Crawling forward under its withering fire, he proceeded 150 yards when he met a
German rifleman whom he killed with his carbine. Continuing his steady forward movement
until he reached grenade-throwing distance, he hurled his grenades at the pillbox opening
in the face of intense enemy fire which wounded him mortally. Undaunted, he gathered his
strength and continued his grenade attack until one entered and exploded within the
pillbox, killing the occupants and putting their guns out of action. Inspired by S/Sgt.
Carey's heroic act, the riflemen quickly occupied the position and overpowered the
remaining enemy resistance in the vicinity.
