Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
World War II - U.S. Army
Homer L Wise
Details
- Rank: Staff Sergeant (Highest Rank: First Sergeant)
- Conflict/Era: World War II
- Unit/Command:
Company L, 142d Infantry,
36th Infantry Division - Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
- Medal of Honor Action Date: June 14, 1944
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Magliano, Italy
Citation
While his platoon was pinned down by enemy small-arms fire from both flanks, he left his position of comparative safety and assisted in carrying one of his men, who had been seriously wounded and who lay in an exposed position, to a point where he could receive medical attention. The advance of the platoon was resumed, but was again stopped by enemy frontal fire. A German officer and two enlisted men, armed with automatic weapons, threatened the right flank. Fearlessly exposing himself, he moved to a position from which he killed all three with his submachine gun. Returning to his squad, he obtained an M1 rifle and several antitank grenades, then took up a position from which he delivered accurate fire on the enemy holding up the advance. As the battalion moved forward it was again stopped by enemy frontal and flanking fire. He procured an automatic rifle and, advancing ahead of his men, neutralized an enemy machine gun with his fire. When the flanking fire became more intense he ran to a nearby tank and, exposing himself on the turret, restored a jammed machine gun to operating efficiency and used it so effectively that the enemy fire from the adjacent ridge was materially reduced, thus permitting the battalion to occupy its objective.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: February 27, 1917, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, United States
- Died: April 22, 1974, Springdale, CT, United States
- Buried: St. John's Cemetery (MH) (Z4-1-9) , Darien, CT, United States