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Day Turner
FULL
MEDAL OF HONOR
CITATION
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Place: At Dahl, Luxembourg.
Date: January 8, 1945.
Rank and organization:
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 319th Infantry, 80th Infantry
Division. |
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
Sergeant
Day G. Turner
UNITED STATES ARMY
*TURNER, DAY G.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 319th
Infantry, 80th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Dahl, Luxembourg, 8 January
1945. Entered service at. Nescopek, Pa. Birth: Berwick, Pa. G.O. No.: 49, 28
June 1945. Citation: He commanded a 9-man squad with the mission of holding a
critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy attacked under
cover of withering artillery, mortar, and rocket fire, he withdrew his squad
into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the last man. The enemy attacked
again and again and were repulsed with heavy losses. Supported by direct tank
fire, they finally gained entrance, but the intrepid sergeant refused to
surrender although 5 of his men were wounded and 1 was killed. He boldly flung a
can of flaming oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought
doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand
encounters. He hurled handgrenade for handgrenade, bayoneted 2 fanatical Germans
who rushed a doorway he was defending and fought on with the enemy's weapons
when his own ammunition was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and
finally, when only 3 men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy
surrendered. Twenty-five prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number
of wounded were counted. Sgt. Turner's valiant stand will live on as a constant
inspiration to his comrades His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination
and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military
service .
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