The
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March
3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to
Captain
Bobbie E. Brown
UNITED STATES ARMY
*BROWN, BOBBIE E.
Rank and organization: Captain, U S. Army, Company C, 18th Infantry, 1st
Infantry Division. Place and date: Crucifix Hill, Aachen, Germany, 8 October
1944. Entered service at: Atlanta, Ga. Born: 2 September 1903, Dublin, Ga. G.O.
No.: 74, 1 September 1945. Citation: He commanded Company C, 18th Infantry
Regiment, on 8 October 1944, when it, with the Ranger Platoon of the 1st
Battalion, attacked Crucifix Hill, a key point in the enemy's defense of Aachen,
Germany. As the leading rifle platoon assaulted the first of many pillboxes
studding the rising ground, heavy fire from a flanking emplacement raked it. An
intense artillery barrage fell on the American troops which had been pinned down
in an exposed position. Seeing that the pillboxes must be neutralized to prevent
the slaughter of his men, Capt. Brown obtained a pole charge and started forward
alone toward the first pillbox, about 100 yards away. Hugging the ground while
enemy bullets whipped around him, he crawled and then ran toward the aperture of
the fortification, rammed his explosive inside and jumped back as the pillbox
and its occupants were blown up. He rejoined the assault platoon, secured
another pole charge, and led the way toward the next pillbox under continuous
artillery mortar, automatic, and small-arms fire. He again ran forward and
placed his charge in the enemy fortification, knocking it out. He then found
that fire from a third pillbox was pinning down his company; so he returned to
his men, secured another charge, and began to creep and crawl toward the hostile
emplacement. With heroic bravery he disregarded opposing fire and worked ahead
in the face of bullets streaming from the pillbox. Finally reaching his
objective, he stood up and inserted his explosive, silencing the enemy. He was
wounded by a mortar shell but refused medical attention and, despite heavy
hostile fire, moved swiftly among his troops exhorting and instructing them in
subduing powerful opposition. Later, realizing the need for information of enemy
activity beyond the hill, Capt. Brown went out alone to reconnoiter. He observed
possible routes of enemy approach and several times deliberately drew enemy fire
to locate gun emplacements. Twice more, on this self-imposed mission, he was
wounded; but he succeeded in securing information which led to the destruction
of several enemy guns and enabled his company to throw back 2 powerful
counterattacks with heavy losses. Only when Company C's position was completely
secure did he permit treatment of his 3 wounds. By his indomitable courage,
fearless leadership, and outstanding skill as a soldier, Capt. Brown contributed
in great measure to the taking of Crucifix Hill, a vital link in the American
line encircling Aachen.
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