Medal of Honor: Carlos C. Ogden – World War II, June 25, 1944

Carlos C. Ogden

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Conflict: World War II
Unit: Company K, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
Date of Action: June 25, 1944
Location: Near Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France

Summary of Action:
In the savage battle for Cherbourg’s high ground, Fort du Roule stood like a fortress, its 88mm gun and twin machine guns choking the American advance. As his company lay pinned beneath a storm of steel, First Lieutenant Carlos C. Ogden made a decision that would define his legacy.

Arming himself with only an M1 rifle, a grenade launcher, and a fistful of grenades, Ogden left cover and advanced up the open slope—alone. German rounds tore past him. A machine gun bullet glanced off his skull, knocking him down. But he rose, bloodied and undeterred.

Climbing higher under direct fire, he reached a vantage point and launched a rifle grenade into the German 88, silencing the big gun. Then, with hand grenades, he wiped out both machine gun nests—taking more wounds in the process.

His solo assault broke the German stronghold and shattered their resistance. Inspired by his courage, Ogden’s men surged forward and seized their objective. The gateway to Cherbourg was open, thanks to one man’s raw determination and fearlessness under fire.

Medal of Honor Citation:
On the morning of 25 June 1944, near Fort du Roule, guarding the approaches to Cherbourg, France, 1st Lt. Ogden’s company was pinned down by fire from a German 88-mm. gun and two machineguns.

Arming himself with an M-1 rifle, a grenade launcher, and a number of rifle and hand grenades, he left his company in position and advanced alone, under fire, up the slope toward the enemy emplacements. Struck on the head and knocked down by a glancing machine gun bullet, 1st Lt. Ogden, in spite of his painful wound and enemy fire from close range, continued up the hill.

Reaching a vantage point, he silenced the 88mm gun with a well-placed rifle grenade and then, with hand grenades, knocked out the two machine guns, again being painfully wounded. 1st Lt. Ogden’s heroic leadership and indomitable courage in alone silencing these enemy weapons inspired his men to greater effort and cleared the way for the company to continue the advance and reach its objectives.