ZUSSMAN, RAYMOND - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 756th Tank Battalion.
Place and date: Noroy le Bourg, France, 12 September 1944.
Entered service at:
Detroit, Mich. Birth: Hamtramck, Mich. G.O. No.: 42, 24 May 1945. Citation:
On 12 September 1944, 2d Lt. Zussman was in command of 2 tanks operating
with an infantry company in the attack on enemy forces occupying the town
of Noroy le Bourg, France. At 7 p.m., his command tank bogged down. Throughout
the ensuing action, armed only with a carbine, he reconnoitered alone on
foot far in advance of his remaining tank and the infantry. Returning only
from time to time to designate targets, he directed the action of the tank
and turned over to the infantry the numerous German soldiers he had caused
to surrender. He located a road block and directed his tanks to destroy
it. Fully exposed to fire from enemy positions only 50 yards distant, he
stood by his tank directing its fire. Three Germans were killed and 8 surrendered.
Again he walked before his tank, leading it against an enemy-held group
of houses, machinegun and small arms fire kicking up dust at his feet.
The tank fire broke the resistance and 20 enemy surrendered. Going forward
again alone he passed an enemy-occupied house from which Germans fired
on him and threw grenades in his path. After a brief fire fight, he signaled
his tank to come up and fire on the house. Eleven German soldiers were
killed and 15 surrendered. Going on alone, he disappeared around a street
corner. The fire of his carbine could be heard and in a few minutes he
reappeared driving 30 prisoners before him. Under 2d Lt. Zussman's heroic
and inspiring leadership, 18 enemy soldiers were killed and 92 captured.
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