MESSERSCHMIDT, HAROLD O. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company L, 30th Infantry,
3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Radden, France, 17 September
1944. Entered service at: Chester, Pa. Birth: Grier City, Pa. G.O. No.:
71, 17 July 1946. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty. Braving machinegun, machine pistol,
and rifle fire, he moved fearlessly and calmly from man to man along his
40-yard squad front, encouraging each to hold against the overwhelming
assault of a fanatical foe surging up the hillside. Knocked to the ground
by a burst from an enemy automatic weapon, he immediately jumped to his
feet, and ignoring his grave wounds, fired his submachine gun at the enemy
that was now upon them, killing 5 and wounding many others before his ammunition
was spent. Virtually surrounded by a frenzied foe and all of his squad
now casualties, he elected to fight alone, using his empty submachine gun
as a bludgeon against his assailants. Spotting 1 of the enemy about to
kill a wounded comrade, he felled the German with a blow of his weapon.
Seeing friendly reinforcements running up the hill, he continued furiously
to wield his empty gun against the foe in a new attack, and it was thus
that he made the supreme sacrifice. Sgt. Messerschmidt's sustained heroism
in hand-to-hand combat with superior enemy forces was in keeping with the
highest traditions of the military service .
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