LINDSTROM, FLOYD K. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Mignano, Italy, 11 November 1943.
Entered Service at:
Colorado Springs, Colo. Birth: Holdredge, Nebr. G.O. No.: 32, 20 April
1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life
above and beyond the call of duty. On 11 November 1943, this soldier's
platoon was furnishing machinegun support for a rifle company attacking
a hill near Mignano, Italy, when the enemy counterattacked, forcing the
riflemen and half the machinegun platoon to retire to a defensive position.
Pfc. Lindstrom saw that his small section was alone and outnumbered 5 to
1, yet he immediately deployed the few remaining men into position and
opened fire with his single gun. The enemy centered fire on him with machinegun,
machine pistols, and grenades. Unable to knock out the enemy nest from
his original position, Pfc. Lindstrom picked up his own heavy machinegun
and staggered 15 yards up the barren, rocky hillside to a new position,
completely ignoring enemy small arms fire which was striking all around
him. From this new site, only 10 yards from the enemy machinegun, he engaged
it in an intense duel. Realizing that he could not hit the hostile gunners
because they were behind a large rock, he charged uphill under a steady
stream of fire, killed both gunners with his pistol and dragged their gun
down to his own men, directing them to employ it against the enemy. Disregarding
heavy rifle fire, he returned to the enemy machinegun nest for 2 boxes
of ammunition, came back and resumed withering fire from his own gun. His
spectacular performance completely broke up the German counterattack. Pfc.
Lindstrom demonstrated aggressive spirit and complete fearlessness in the
face of almost certain death.
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