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

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

Summary of Action

On the morning of 25 June 1944, First Lieutenant Carlos C. Ogden and Company K, 314th Infantry Regiment were advancing against the heavily defended approaches to Fort du Roule near Cherbourg, France.

German defenders occupied commanding positions overlooking the battlefield, and the American advance was halted by devastating fire from an 88-millimeter gun supported by two machine-gun positions.

The enemy fire pinned down Ogden's company and threatened to stop the attack entirely.

Recognizing that the position had to be eliminated, Ogden armed himself with an M1 rifle, a grenade launcher, rifle grenades, and hand grenades.

Leaving his company in place, he advanced alone up the exposed hillside directly toward the enemy emplacements.

As he climbed the slope, enemy machine-gun fire struck him in the head with a glancing bullet, knocking him to the ground.

Despite his painful wound and the close-range enemy fire surrounding him, he refused to withdraw and continued his advance.

Reaching a position from which he could engage the enemy, Ogden fired a rifle grenade that successfully silenced the German 88-millimeter gun.

He then advanced against the two machine-gun positions.

Using hand grenades, he destroyed both emplacements, although he was wounded again during the action.

His single-handed assault eliminated the enemy weapons that had halted the attack.

Inspired by his courage and leadership, the men of Company K resumed their advance, captured their objectives, and continued the assault against the defenses guarding Cherbourg.

First Lieutenant Carlos C. Ogden's extraordinary bravery and determination reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

OGDEN, CARLOS C.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Fort du Roule, France, 25 June 1944.

Entered service at: Fairmont, Illinois.

Born: 19 May 1917, Borton, Illinois.

G.O. No.: 49, 28 June 1945.

Citation:

On the morning of June 25, 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 2 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 machinegun 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 handgrenades, knocked out the 2 machineguns, 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.