The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*ZUSSMAN, RAYMOND
Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army,
756th Tank Battalion. Place and Date Noroy le Bourg, France, 12 September 1944. Entered
Service at: Detroit, Mich. Birth: Hamtramck, Mich. G.O. No.: 42, 24 May
1945.
Citation:
On 12 September 1944, 2d Lt. Zussman was in command of 2 tanks operating with an infantry
company in the attack on enemy forces occupying the town of Noroy le Bourg, France. At 7
p.m., his command tank bogged down. Throughout the ensuing action, armed only with a
carbine, he reconnoitered alone on foot far in advance of his remaining tank and the
infantry. Returning only from time to time to designate targets, he directed the action of
the tank and turned over to the infantry the numerous German soldiers he had caused to
surrender. He located a road block and directed his tanks to destroy it. Fully exposed to
fire from enemy positions only 50 yards distant, he stood by his tank directing its fire.
Three Germans were killed and 8 surrendered. Again he walked before his tank, leading it
against an enemy-held group of houses, machinegun and small arms fire kicking up dust at
his feet. The tank fire broke the resistance and 20 enemy surrendered. Going forward again
alone he passed an enemy-occupied house from which Germans fired on him and threw grenades
in his path. After a brief fire fight, he signaled his tank to come up and fire on the
house. Eleven German soldiers were killed and 15 surrendered. Going on alone, he
disappeared around a street corner. The fire of his carbine could be heard and in a few
minutes he reappeared driving 30 prisoners before him. Under 2d Lt. Zussman's heroic and
inspiring leadership, 18 enemy soldiers were killed and 92 captured.
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