MINICK, JOHN W. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 121st Infantry,
8th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Hurtgen, Germany, 21 November
1944. Entered service at: Carlisle, Pa. Birth: Wall, Pa. Citation: He displayed
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life, above
and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict with the
enemy on 21 November 1944, near Hurtgen, Germany. S/Sgt. Minick's battalion
was halted in its advance by extensive minefields, exposing troops to heavy
concentrations of enemy artillery and mortar fire. Further delay in the
advance would result in numerous casualties and a movement through the
minefield was essential. Voluntarily, S/Sgt. Minick led 4 men through hazardous
barbed wire and debris, finally making his way through the minefield for
a distance of 300 yards. When an enemy machinegun opened fire, he signaled
his men to take covered positions, edged his way alone toward the flank
of the weapon and opened fire, killing 2 members of the guncrew and capturing
3 others. Moving forward again, he encountered and engaged single-handedly
an entire company killing 20 Germans and capturing 20, and enabling his
platoon to capture the remainder of the hostile group. Again moving ahead
and spearheading his battalion's advance, he again encountered machinegun
fire. Crawling forward toward the weapon, he reached a point from which
he knocked the weapon out of action. Still another minefield had to be
crossed. Undeterred, S/Sgt. Minick advanced forward alone through constant
enemy fire and while thus moving, detonated a mine and was instantly killed.
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