SHERIDAN, CARL V. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company K, 47th
Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Frenzenberg Castle, Weisweiler,
Germany, 26 November 1944. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Birth: Baltimore,
Md. G.O. No.: 43, 30 May 1445. Citation: Attached to the 2d Battalion of
the 47th Infantry on 26 November 1944, for the attack on Frenzenberg Castle,
in the vicinity of Weisweiler, Germany, Company K, after an advance of
1,000 yards through a shattering barrage of enemy artillery and mortar
fire, had captured 2 buildings in the courtyard of the castle but was left
with an effective fighting strength of only 35 men. During the advance,
Pfc. Sheridan, acting as a bazooka gunner, had braved the enemy fire to
stop and procure the additional rockets carried by his ammunition bearer
who was wounded. Upon rejoining his company in the captured buildings,
he found it in a furious fight with approximately 70 enemy paratroopers
occupying the castle gate house. This was a solidly built stone structure
surrounded by a deep water-filled moat 20 feet wide. The only approach
to the heavily defended position was across the courtyard and over a drawbridge
leading to a barricaded oaken door. Pfc. Sheridan, realizing that his bazooka
was the only available weapon with sufficient power to penetrate the heavy
oak planking, with complete disregard for his own safety left the protection
of the buildings and in the face of heavy and intense small-arms and grenade
fire, crossed the courtyard to the drawbridge entrance where he could bring
direct fire to bear against the door. Although handicapped by the lack
of an assistant, and a constant target for the enemy fire that burst around
him, he skillfully and effectively handled his awkward weapon to place
two well-aimed rockets into the structure. Observing that the door was
only weakened, and realizing that a gap must be made for a successful assault,
he loaded his last rocket, took careful aim, and blasted a hole through
the heavy planks. Turning to his company he shouted, "Come on, let's get
them!" With his .45 pistol blazing, he charged into the gaping entrance
and was killed by the withering fire that met him. The final assault on
Frezenberg Castle was made through the gap which Pfc. Sheridan gave his
life to create.
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