Medal of Honor: Curtis F. Shoup – World War II – Belgium – January 1945

Name: Curtis F. Shoup
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company I, 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division
Place: Near Tillet, Belgium
Entered Service At: Buffalo, New York
Born: Napanoch, New York

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Summary of Action

On 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium, Staff Sergeant Curtis F. Shoup’s company attacked German forces positioned on rising ground during the Battle of the Bulge. Almost immediately, the Americans were pinned down by intense enemy machine-gun fire. Frozen ground prevented them from digging in, leaving the unit fully exposed as mortar and artillery fire rained down around them.

Recognizing that the enemy machine gun had to be destroyed or his company would be annihilated, Staff Sergeant Shoup armed himself with an automatic rifle and crawled to within 75 yards of the emplacement. From that position his fire proved ineffective. Without hesitation and with full knowledge of the danger, he stood upright and advanced directly into the storm of enemy bullets, firing his weapon from the hip as he moved forward.

Struck multiple times, Staff Sergeant Shoup was knocked to the ground. Summoning his remaining strength, he rose again and staggered onward until he reached grenade range. With a final, deliberate act, he hurled a grenade into the enemy position, destroying the machine-gun nest. Mortally wounded, he collapsed moments later.

By his fearless advance and ultimate sacrifice, Staff Sergeant Shoup eliminated the weapon that threatened his company, transforming a desperate situation into victory and saving the lives of his fellow soldiers.

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Medal of Honor Citation

On 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium, his company attacked German troops on rising ground. Intense hostile machinegun fire pinned down and threatened to annihilate the American unit in an exposed position where frozen ground made it impossible to dig in for protection. Heavy mortar and artillery fire from enemy batteries was added to the storm of destruction falling on the Americans.

Realizing that the machinegun must be silenced at all costs, S/Sgt. Shoup, armed with an automatic rifle, crawled to within 75 yards of the enemy emplacement. He found that his fire was ineffective from this position and, completely disregarding his own safety, stood up and grimly strode ahead into the murderous stream of bullets, firing his low-held weapon as he went.

He was hit several times and finally was knocked to the ground. But he struggled to his feet and staggered forward until close enough to hurl a grenade, wiping out the enemy machinegun nest with his dying action. By his heroism, fearless determination, and supreme sacrifice, S/Sgt. Shoup eliminated a hostile weapon which threatened to destroy his company and turned a desperate situation into victory.