World War II - U.S. Army

David Crowder Waybur

• Rank: First Lieutenant
• Conflict/Era: World War II
• Unit/Command:
  3d Reconnaissance Troop,
  3d Infantry Division
• Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
• Medal of Honor Action Date: July 17, 1943
• Medal of Honor Action Place: near Agrigento, Sicily, Sicily

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict with the enemy. Commander of a reconnaissance platoon, 1st Lt. Waybur volunteered to lead a three-vehicle patrol into enemy-held territory to locate an isolated Ranger unit. Proceeding under cover of darkness, over roads known to be heavily mined and strongly defended by road blocks and machine-gun positions, the patrol's progress was halted at a bridge which had been destroyed by enemy troops and was suddenly cut off from its supporting vehicles by four enemy tanks. Although hopelesly outnumbered and outgunned, and himself and his men completely exposed, he quickly dispersed his vehicles and ordered his gunners to open fire with their .30 and .50-caliber machine guns. Then, with ammunition exhausted, three of his men hit, and himself seriously wounded, he seized his .45-caliber Thompson submachine gun and, standing in the bright moonlight directly in the line of fire, alone engaged the leading tank at 30 yards and succeeded in killing the crewmembers, causing the tank to run onto the bridge and crash into the stream bed. After dispatching one of the men for aid, he rallied the rest to cover and withstood the continued fire of the tanks until the arrival of aid the following morning.