Rank and organization: First Lieutenant,
U.S. Army, 133d Infantry, 34th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna,
Italy, 26 May 1944. Entered service at: Baraboo, Wis. Birth: Baraboo,
Wis. G.O. No.: 5, 15 January 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 26 May
1944. Attacking the strongly held German Anzio-Nettuno defense line near Cisterna, Italy,
1st Lt. Newman, in the lead of his platoon, was suddenly fired upon by 2 enemy machineguns
located on the crest of a hill about 100 yards to his front. The 4 scouts with him
immediately hit the ground, but 1st Lt. Newman remained standing in order to see the enemy
positions and his platoon then about 100 yards behind. Locating the enemy nests, 1st Lt.
Newman called back to his platoon and ordered 1 squad to advance to him and the other to
flank the enemy to the right. Then, still standing upright in the face of the enemy
machinegun fire, 1st Lt. Newman opened up with his tommygun on the enemy nests. From this
range, his fire was not effective in covering the advance of his squads, and 1 squad was
pinned down by the enemy fire. Seeing that his squad was unable to advance, 1st Lt.
Newman, in full view of the enemy gunners and in the face of their continuous fire,
advanced alone on the enemy nests. He returned their fire with his tommygun and succeeded
in wounding a German in each of the nests. The remaining 2 Germans fled from the position
into a nearby house. Three more enemy soldiers then came out of the house and ran toward a
third machinegun. 1st Lt. Newman, still relentlessly advancing toward them, killed 1
before he reached the gun, the second before he could fire it. The third fled for his life
back into the house. Covering his assault by firing into the doors and windows of the
house, 1st Lt. Newman, boldly attacking by himself, called for the occupants to surrender
to him. Gaining the house, he kicked in the door and went inside. Although armed with
rifles and machine pistols, the 11 Germans there, apparently intimidated, surrendered to
the lieutenant without further resistance, 1st Lt. Newman, single-handed, had silenced 3
enemy machineguns, wounded 2 Germans, killed 2 more, and took 11 prisoners. This
demonstration of sheer courage, bravery, and willingness to close with the enemy even in
the face of such heavy odds, instilled into these green troops the confidence of veterans
and reflects the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.
