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When an overwhelming enemy force broke through and isolated 30 men of his unit, Master Sergeant Watkins took command, established a perimeter defense and directed action which repelled continuous enemy assaults. With his men surrounded and cut off, he moved from foxhole to foxhole exposing himself to enemy fire, giving instructions and offering encouragement. Later when ammunition ran low he shot two enemy soldiers 50 yards outside the perimeter and went out alone for their ammunition and weapons. As he picked up their weapons he was attacked by three others and wounded. Returning fire he killed all three and gathering up their weapons for his amazed comrades. During a later assault six enemy soldiers began to throw grenades into the perimeter. Disregarding his wound he rose from his foxhole to engage them with rifle fire. Hit by a burst from an enemy machinegun he continued to fire until he had killed the grenade throwers. With this threat eliminated he collapsed and despite being paralyzed from the waist down, encouraged his men to hold on. He refused all food, saving it for his comrades, and when it became apparent that help would not arrive in time to hold the position ordered his men to escape to friendly lines.
Travis Watkins was also a veteran of combat service in World War II.
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