Medal of Honor: Arthur O. Beyer – World War II – Belgium – January 1945

Name: Arthur O. Beyer
Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 603d Tank Destroyer Battalion
Place: Near Arloncourt, Belgium
Entered Service At: St. Ansgar, Iowa
Born: Rock Township, Mitchell County, Iowa

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Summary of Action

On 15 January 1945, Corporal Arthur O. Beyer was serving as a tank destroyer gunner with Company C, 603d Tank Destroyer Battalion, during combat operations near Arloncourt, Belgium. His platoon was halted by intense antitank, machinegun, and rifle fire from German forces dug in along a ridge approximately 200 yards to the front.

Spotting an enemy machinegun position anchoring the defense, Corporal Beyer brought his 76-mm gun to bear and silenced the weapon, killing one enemy soldier. Without hesitation, he dismounted from his vehicle and, fully exposed to enemy observation and fire, crossed open ground alone to capture the two remaining members of the machinegun crew.

While still under fire, another enemy machinegun some 250 yards to his left continued to rake the area. Corporal Beyer advanced directly toward this second position through withering small-arms fire. Reaching the emplacement, he threw a grenade into the position, killing one enemy soldier and capturing the remaining two.

Rather than withdraw, Corporal Beyer pressed on. Moving approximately a quarter mile along the ridge, he attacked German soldiers in their foxholes with his carbine and grenades, systematically breaking the enemy defense. By the time his self-imposed assault ended, he had destroyed two machinegun positions, killed eight enemy soldiers, and captured eighteen prisoners, including two bazooka teams.

Through his fearless initiative, personal bravery, and determination to close with and destroy the enemy, Corporal Beyer single-handedly eliminated a German defensive line and enabled his task force to seize its objective.

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Medal of Honor Citation

He displayed conspicuous gallantry in action. His platoon, in which he was a tank-destroyer gunner, was held up by antitank, machinegun, and rifle fire from enemy troops dug in along a ridge about 200 yards to the front. Noting a machinegun position in this defense line, he fired upon it with his 76-mm. gun killing 1 man and silencing the weapon. He dismounted from his vehicle and, under direct enemy observation, crossed open ground to capture the 2 remaining members of the crew.

Another machinegun, about 250 yards to the left, continued to fire on him. Through withering fire, he advanced on the position. Throwing a grenade into the emplacement, he killed 1 crewmember and again captured the 2 survivors. He was subjected to concentrated small-arms fire but, with great bravery, he worked his way a quarter mile along the ridge, attacking hostile soldiers in their foxholes with his carbine and grenades.

When he had completed his self-imposed mission against powerful German forces, he had destroyed 2 machinegun positions, killed 8 of the enemy and captured 18 prisoners, including 2 bazooka teams. Cpl. Beyer’s intrepid action and unflinching determination to close with and destroy the enemy eliminated the German defense line and enabled his task force to gain its objective.