Medal of Honor: David C. Waybur – World War II, July 17, 1943

Name: David C. Waybur
Rank: First Lieutenant
Conflict: World War II
Unit: 3rd Reconnaissance Troop, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Date of Action: July 17, 1943
Location: Near Agrigento, Sicily

Summary of Action:
On the night of July 17, 1943, deep behind enemy lines in the Sicilian countryside, First Lieutenant David C. Waybur led a daring three-vehicle reconnaissance patrol in search of an isolated U.S. Ranger unit. The mission was perilous—enemy-occupied territory, mined roads, and fortified roadblocks stood between them and their objective. But Waybur, commander of the 3rd Reconnaissance Troop of the 3rd Infantry Division, volunteered to lead it himself.

As the patrol crept forward in the moonlight, they reached a destroyed bridge and suddenly found themselves cut off by four enemy tanks. With no anti-tank weapons and nowhere to hide, the outgunned patrol was completely exposed. Rather than retreat or surrender, Waybur dispersed his vehicles, ordered his men to open fire with every available .30 and .50 caliber machine gun, and directed the firefight.

But the situation grew desperate. Three of his men were wounded, and Waybur himself took a serious hit. Still, he refused to quit.

Bleeding and surrounded, he grabbed his .45 caliber Thompson submachine gun, stepped into the bright moonlight, and faced down a German tank at just 30 yards. With incredible composure, he fired directly at the crew compartment—killing the crew and causing the tank to lurch forward, crashing off the destroyed bridge into the streambed below.

Against impossible odds, Waybur rallied the survivors, reorganized their position, and held off the remaining tanks until daylight—refusing evacuation until the wounded could be treated and reinforcements arrived.

His stand, under blinding fire and against armor that could have crushed them all, saved his men and crippled an enemy armored advance. It was an act of raw courage, quick thinking, and complete disregard for personal safety—the very definition of valor above and beyond the call of duty.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict with the enemy. Commander of a reconnaissance platoon, 1st Lt. Waybur volunteered to lead a 3-vehicle patrol into enemy-held territory to locate an isolated Ranger unit. Proceeding under cover of darkness, over roads known to be heavily mined, and strongly defended by road blocks and machinegun positions, the patrol’s progress was halted at a bridge which had been destroyed by enemy troops and was suddenly cut off from its supporting vehicles by 4 enemy tanks. Although hopelessly outnumbered and out-gunned, and himself and his men completely exposed, he quickly dispersed his vehicles and ordered his gunners to open fire with their .30 and .50 caliber machineguns. Then, with ammunition exhausted, 3 of his men hit and himself seriously wounded, he seized his .45 caliber Thompson submachinegun and standing in the bright moonlight directly in the line of fire, alone engaged the leading tank at 30 yards and succeeded in killing the crewmembers, causing the tank to run onto the bridge and crash into the stream bed. After dispatching 1 of the men for aid he rallied the rest to cover and withstood the continued fire of the tanks till the arrival of aid the following morning.