Medal of Honor: Alton W. Knappenberger – World War II – Italy – February 1944

Name: Alton W. Knappenberger
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Division: 3d Infantry Division
Place: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy
Entered Service At: Spring Mount, Pennsylvania
Born: Cooperstown, Pennsylvania

Summary of Action

On 1 February 1944, near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, a powerful German counterattack struck the battalion of the 3d Infantry Division. As enemy fire intensified, Private First Class Alton W. Knappenberger crawled forward to an exposed knoll and took position with his automatic rifle, deliberately placing himself where he could best stop the assault.

An enemy machinegun opened fire from 85 yards away, bullets striking within inches of his position. Rising to a kneeling stance, Pfc. Knappenberger calmly engaged the gun, killing two of the crew and wounding the third, silencing the weapon. Two German soldiers then crawled to within 20 yards and hurled grenades at him, but he cut them down with a single burst. A second machinegun soon opened fire from 100 yards and was likewise neutralized by his accurate fire.

As the fight intensified, an enemy 20mm antiaircraft gun joined the attack. Under tank and artillery shellfire, with explosions bursting within 15 yards, Pfc. Knappenberger continued to fire on enemy infantry armed with automatic weapons. When his ammunition ran out, he crawled forward through machinegun fire to strip rifle clips from a fallen comrade, returned to his position, and resumed firing—repelling an assaulting German platoon. Only when his ammunition was completely exhausted did he rejoin his company.

His solitary stand disrupted the enemy attack for more than two hours, buying critical time and preventing a breakthrough.

Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict with the enemy, on 1 February 1944 near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy. When a heavy German counterattack was launched against his battalion, Pfc. Knappenberger crawled to an exposed knoll and went into position with his automatic rifle. An enemy machinegun 85 yards away opened fire, and bullets struck within 6 inches of him. Rising to a kneeling position, Pfc. Knappenberger opened fire on the hostile crew, knocked out the gun, killed 2 members of the crew, and wounded the third. While he fired at this hostile position, 2 Germans crawled to a point within 20 yards of the knoll and threw potato-masher grenades at him, but Pfc. Knappenberger killed them both with 1 burst from his automatic rifle. Later, a second machinegun opened fire upon his exposed position from a distance of 100 yards, and this weapon also was silenced by his well-aimed shots. Shortly thereafter, an enemy 20mm. antiaircraft gun directed fire at him, and again Pfc. Knappenberger returned fire to wound 1 member of the hostile crew. Under tank and artillery shellfire, with shells bursting within 15 yards of him, he held his precarious position and fired at all enemy infantrymen armed with machine pistols and machineguns which he could locate. When his ammunition supply became exhausted, he crawled 15 yards forward through steady machinegun fire, removed rifle clips from the belt of a casualty, returned to his position and resumed firing to repel an assaulting German platoon armed with automatic weapons. Finally, his ammunition supply being completely exhausted, he rejoined his company. Pfc. Knappenberger’s intrepid action disrupted the enemy attack for over 2 hours.