The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*WAUGH, ROBERT T.
Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army,
339th Infantry, 85th Infantry Division. Place and Date Near Tremensucli, Italy,
11-14 May 1944. Entered Service at: Augusta, Maine. Birth: Ashton, R.I. G.O.
No.: 79, 4 October 1944.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of
duty in action with the enemy. In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on 11
May, 1st Lt. Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with
his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on 6 bunkers guarding this hill, 1st Lt.
Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades
into it and as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his tommygun. He
repeated this process on the 5 remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants. On
the morning of 14 May, 1st Lt. Waugh ordered his platoon to lay a base of fire on 2 enemy
pillboxes located on a knoll which commanded the only trail up the hill. He then ran to
the first pillbox, threw several grenades into it, drove the defenders into the open, and
killed them. The second pillbox was next taken by this intrepid officer by similar
methods. The fearless actions of 1st Lt. Waugh broke the Gustav Line at that point,
neutralizing 6 bunkers and 2 pillboxes and he was personally responsible for the death of
30 of the enemy and the capture of 25 others. He was later killed in action in Itri,
Italy, while leading his platoon in an attack.
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