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
Lieutenant Colonel
George L. Mabry Jr.
UNITED STATES ARMY
*MABRY, GEORGE L., JR.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 2d Battalion, 8th
Infantry, 4th Infantry Division Place and date: Hurtgen Forest near
Schevenhutte, Germany, 20 November 1944. Entered service at: Sumter, S.C. Birth:
Sumter, SC G.O. No.: 77, September 1945. Citation: He was commanding the 2d
Battalion, 8th Infantry, in an attack through the Hurtgen Forest near
Schevenhutte, Germany, on 20 November 1944. During the early phases of the
assault, the leading elements of his battalion were halted by a minefield and
immobilized by heavy hostile fire. Advancing alone into the mined area, Col.
Mabry established a safe route of passage. He then moved ahead of the foremost
scouts, personally leading the attack, until confronted by a boobytrapped double
concertina obstacle. With the assistance of the scouts, he disconnected the
explosives and cut a path through the wire. Upon moving through the opening, he
observed 3 enemy in foxholes whom he captured at bayonet point. Driving steadily
forward he paced the assault against 3 log bunkers which housed mutually
supported automatic weapons. Racing up a slope ahead of his men, he found the
initial bunker deserted, then pushed on to the second where he was suddenly
confronted by 9 onrushing enemy. Using the butt of his rifle, he felled 1
adversary and bayoneted a second, before his scouts came to his aid and assisted
him in overcoming the others in hand-to-hand combat. Accompanied by the
riflemen, he charged the third bunker under pointblank small arms fire and led
the way into the fortification from which he prodded 6 enemy at bayonet point.
Following the consolidation of this area, he led his battalion across 300 yards
of fire-swept terrain to seize elevated ground upon which he established a
defensive position which menaced the enemy on both flanks, and provided his
regiment a firm foothold on the approach to the Cologne Plain. Col. Mabry's
superlative courage, daring, and leadership in an operation of major importance
exemplify the finest characteristics of the military service.
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