Medal of Honor, Alvin P. Carey, World War II, August 23, 1944

Name: Alvin P. Carey
War: World War II
Date of Action: August 23, 1944

Summary of Action

In the rugged hills near Plougastel, Brittany, France, Staff Sergeant Alvin P. Carey led his machine gun section as the 2nd Infantry Division pushed forward against heavily entrenched German forces. The attack stalled under merciless machine gun fire pouring from a reinforced pillbox 200 yards up Hill 154. With the company pinned down and casualties mounting, Carey knew that someone had to act decisively—or the advance would collapse.

Leaving the relative safety of his position, Carey gathered as many grenades as he could carry, slung his carbine, and began crawling alone up the deadly slope. Enemy fire lashed around him, kicking up dirt and cutting into the ground as he clawed forward yard by yard. At 150 yards, a German rifleman rose to cut him down, but Carey shot him with precision, refusing to halt his relentless climb.

Now within throwing distance, Carey launched grenade after grenade at the narrow opening of the pillbox. A storm of fire answered him, and bullets tore into his body, mortally wounding him. Yet Carey, refusing to fall back, rose again and hurled his final grenades. One sailed directly into the pillbox and detonated, annihilating the enemy crew inside and silencing their guns.

Inspired by his sacrifice, Carey’s comrades surged forward, seizing the position and rolling up the remaining German defenses in the area. His selfless courage had not only destroyed the immediate threat but opened the way for the division to continue its advance inland.

Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 23 August 1944. S/Sgt. Carey, leader of a machinegun section, was advancing with his company in the attack on the strongly held enemy hill 154, near Plougastel, Brittany, France. The advance was held up when the attacking units were pinned down by intense enemy machinegun fire from a pillbox 200 yards up the hill. From his position covering the right flank, S/Sgt. Carey displaced his guns to an advanced position and then, upon his own initiative, armed himself with as many hand grenades as he could carry and without regard for his personal safety started alone up the hill toward the pillbox. Crawling forward under its withering fire, he proceeded 150 yards when he met a German rifleman whom he killed with his carbine. Continuing his steady forward movement until he reached grenade-throwing distance, he hurled his grenades at the pillbox opening in the face of intense enemy fire which wounded him mortally. Undaunted, he gathered his strength and continued his grenade attack until one entered and exploded within the pillbox, killing the occupants and putting their guns out of action. Inspired by S/Sgt. Carey’s heroic act, the riflemen quickly occupied the position and overpowered the remaining enemy resistance in the vicinity.