etoile 

 

Ernest W. PRUSSMAN 


 

ii
NUMBER OF SERVICE31227157
AGE23 yo
DATE OF BIRTH1921 à Baltimore, MARYLAND
ETATMASSACHUSETTS
FAMILYSingle
RANKPrivate First Class
FONCTIONInfantryMan
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT Sales clerksNE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT27 October 1942 Boston MASSACHUSETTS
COMPANYCompany
REGIMENT 13th Infantry Regiment
DIVISION 8th Infantry Division
DATE OF DEATH8 September 1944ii
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHLoscoat
CEMETERY TEMPORARY

 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Saint-James N°3578

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

PlotRowGrave
L9217

 

CEMETERYBRITTANY AMERICAN CEMETERY of St James (Montjoie St Martin)

Map of St James American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
A1214
DECORATION
Médaille Of Honordsc

Croix de guerre

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge

 

croix de guerre

Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

 

 

us army div 8 Div 8 1 13ri
STORY
CITATION

World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Enlisted as a private in the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division of the United States Army in 1944.

While serving with his unit near Brittany France, he disabled an enemy machine gun position and captured several enemy soldiers before being killed. Seven months later, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The citation read:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on September 8, 1944, near Les Coates, Brittany, France.

When the advance of the flank companies of 2 battalions was halted by intense enemy mortar, machine gun, and sniper fire from a fortified position on his left, PFC Prussman maneuvered his squad to assault the enemy fortifications. Hurdling a hedgerow, he came upon 2 enemy riflemen whom he disarmed.

After leading his squad across an open field to the next hedgerow, he advanced to a machine gun position, destroyed the gun, captured its crew and 2 riflemen. Again advancing ahead of his squad in the assault, he was mortally wounded by an enemy rifleman, but as he fell to the ground he threw a hand grenade, killing his opponent. His superb leadership and heroic action at the cost of his life so demoralized the enemy that resistance at this point collapsed, permitting the 2 battalions to continue their advance".

 

Bio by: Anne Cady

 

div 8

8th  INFANTRY DIVISION - GOLDEN ARROW  

 

Activated/Activé

 Normandy/Normandie

1 Jul 1940  Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  266
   Casualties/Victimes 13 986

Entered Combat/Entré au combat

 
8 Jul 1944 Normandy  

Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux

Maj. Gen. Philip B. Peyton (Jun 40 - Dec 40)
Maj. Gen. James P. Marley (Dec 40 - Feb 41)
Maj. Gen. William E. Shedd (Feb 41 - Feb 41)
Maj. Gen. Henry Terrell, Jr. (Mar 41 - Mar 41)
Maj. Gen. James P. Marley (Apr 41 - Jul 42)
Maj. Gen. Paul E. Peabody (Aug 42 - Jan 43)
Maj. Gen. William C. McMahon (Feb 43 - Jul 44)
Maj. Gen. Donald A. Stroh (Jul 44 - Dec 44)
Maj. Gen. William G. Weaver (Dec 44 - Feb 45)
Maj. Gen. Bryant E. Moore (Feb 45 - Nov 45)

Campaigns/Campagnes

Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44)
Northern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44)
Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)

   

PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP

carte campagne europe

DIVISION CHRONICLE


After training in Ireland the 8th Infantry Division landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, 4 July 1944, and entered combat on the 7th. Fighting through the hedgerows, it crossed the Ay River, 26 July, pushed through Rennes, 8 August, and attacked Brest in September. The Crozon Peninsula was cleared, 19 September, and the Division drove across France to Luxembourg, moved to the Hurtgen Forest, 20 November, cleared Hurtgen on the 28th and Brandenburg, 3 December, and pushed on to the Roer. That river was crossed on 23 February 1945, Duren taken on the 25th and the Erft Canal crossed on the 28th. The 8th reached the Rhine near Rodenkirchen, 7 March, and maintained positions along the river near Koln. On 6 April the Division attacked northwest to aid in the destruction of enemy forces in the Ruhr Pocket, and by the 17th had completed its mission. After security duty, the Division, under operational control of the British Second Army, drove across the Elbe, 1 May, and penetrated to Schwerin when the war in Europe ended.

CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION


Après s'être entraîné en Irlande, la 8th Infantry Division débarque à Utah Beach, en Normandie, le 4 juillet 1944, et entre en combat le 7. Traversant les haies, il franchit la rivière Ay, le 26 juillet, traverse Rennes le 8 août et attaque Brest en septembre. La péninsule de Crozon a été défrichée le 19 septembre et la Division a traversé la France jusqu'au Luxembourg, s'est installée dans la forêt de Hurtgen le 20 novembre, a défriché Hurtgen le 28 et Brandebourg le 3 décembre et s'est dirigée vers la Roer. Cette rivière fut franchie le 23 février 1945, Duren fut prise le 25 et le canal Erft traversa le 28. Le 8 a atteint le Rhin près de Rodenkirchen, le 7 mars, et a maintenu des positions le long de la rivière près de Cologne. Le 6 avril, la division attaqua le nord-ouest pour aider à la destruction des forces ennemies dans la poche de la Ruhr. Le 17, elle avait achevé sa mission. Après la sécurité, la Division, sous le contrôle opérationnel de la deuxième armée britannique, traversa l'Elbe le 1er mai et pénétra à Schwerin à la fin de la guerre en Europe.
SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com
 

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOFrédéric LAVERNHE - En.Wikipedia.org - findagrave.com   - Abmc.gov
PROGRAMMERHenri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
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