Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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World War II - U.S. Army

Chris Carr

Details
  • Also Known As: Legally changed from Christos H. Karaberis, under which name the medal was awarded
  • Rank: Sergeant (Highest Rank: Sergeant First Class)
  • Conflict/Era: World War II
  • Unit/Command:
    Company L, 337th Infantry,
    85th Infantry Division
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: October 1 - 2, 1944
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: near Guignola, Italy
Citation

Leading a squad of Company L, he gallantly cleared the way for his company's approach along a ridge toward its objective, the Casoni di Remagna. When his platoon was pinned down by heavy fire from enemy mortars, machine gun, machine pistols, and rifles, he climbed in advance of his squad on a maneuver around the left flank to locate and eliminate the enemy gun positions. Undeterred by deadly fire that ricocheted off the barren rocky hillside, he crept to the rear of the first machine gun and charged, firing his submachine gun. In this surprise attack he captured eight prisoners and turned them over to his squad before striking out alone for a second machine gun. Discovered in his advance and subjected to direct fire from hostile weapons, he leaped to his feet and ran forward, weaving and crouching, pouring automatic fire into the emplacement that killed four of its defenders and forced the surrender of a lone survivor. He again moved forward through heavy fire to attack a third machine gun. When close to the emplacement, he closed with a nerve-shattering shout and burst of fire. Paralyzed by his whirlwind attack, all four gunners immediately surrendered. Once more advancing aggressively in the face of a thoroughly alerted enemy, he approached a point of high ground occupied by two machine guns which were firing on his company on the slope below. Charging the first of these weapons, he killed four of the crew and captured three more. The six defenders of the adjacent position, cowed by the savagery of his assault, immediately gave up. By his one-man attack, heroically and voluntarily undertaken in the face of tremendous risks, Sgt. Carr captured five enemy machine-gun positions, killed eight Germans, took 22 prisoners, cleared the ridge leading to his company's objective, and drove a deep wedge into the enemy line, making it possible for his battalion to occupy important, commanding ground.

Medal of Honor Recipient Chris Carr
Medal of Honor Recipient Chris Carr
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Presentation Date & Details: October 12, 1945

    The White House, presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman

  • Born: April 6, 1914, Manchester, Hillsborough County, NH, United States
  • Died: September 16, 1970, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • Buried: Los Angeles National Cemetery (MH) (275-G-15), Los Angeles, CA, United States
From the CMOHS Archives

Chris Carr was given the name Christos Karaberis at birth. He later chose to legally change his name to "Chris Carr. His Medal of Honor was originally awarded under his birth name, but when he legally changed his name, the U.S. Army agreed to accept the change in his military records.

 

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