*HENRY, ROBERT T.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army,
16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Luchem, Germany, 3 December
1944. Entered service at: Greenville, Miss. Birth: Greenville, Miss. G.O.
No: 45, 12 June 1945.
Citation:
Near Luchem, Germany, he volunteered to attempt the destruction of a nest of 5 enemy
machineguns located in a bunker 150 yards to the flank which had stopped the advance of
his platoon. Stripping off his pack, overshoes, helmet, and overcoat, he sprinted alone
with his rifle and hand grenades across the open terrain toward the enemy emplacement.
Before he had gone half the distance he was hit by a burst of machinegun fire. Dropping
his rifle, he continued to stagger forward until he fell mortally wounded only 10 yards
from the enemy emplacement. His single-handed attack forced the enemy to leave the
machineguns. During this break in hostile fire the platoon moved forward and overran the
position. Pvt. Henry, by his gallantry and intrepidity and utter disregard for his own
life, enabled his company to reach its objective, capturing this key defense and 70 German
prisoners.
