Medal of Honor: Floyd K. Lindstrom – World War II – November 11, 1943
In the final days of the Great War, one young Texan crossed the deadly Meuse to bring back what others could not. Private David B. Barkeley gave his life for a mission that revealed the enemy’s strength—and helped end the war.
November 12, 2025
Name: Floyd Kenneth Lindstrom
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Army, 3rd Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Mignano, Italy – 11 November 1943
Entered Service At: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Born: June 21, 1912 – Holdrege, Nebraska
Departed: February 3, 1944 (Killed in Action near Anzio, Italy)
Accredited To: Colorado
General Orders No.: 32, War Department, 20 April 1944
Summary of Action
In the bitter mountain fighting near Mignano, Italy, Private First Class Floyd K. Lindstrom’s platoon came under a furious German counterattack. The riflemen were forced back, leaving Lindstrom and a handful of machine gunners alone and outnumbered five to one.
As enemy rounds tore into the hillside, Lindstrom refused to retreat. Setting his men into position, he opened fire with his single machine gun, holding off wave after wave of attackers. When it became clear his position couldn’t hit the main enemy nest, he hefted his heavy gun—alone—and charged fifteen yards up the rocky slope under a storm of bullets.
Now just ten yards from the German emplacement, he engaged in a deadly duel until realizing he couldn’t reach the gunners behind cover. Without hesitation, Lindstrom drew his pistol, charged straight into the position, and shot both enemy soldiers at point-blank range. He then dragged their gun back down to his own men, ordered them to turn it on the enemy, and sprinted back up the hill—under the same relentless fire—to retrieve ammunition.
By the time the smoke cleared, the German counterattack had completely collapsed. His fearless assault and relentless fighting spirit inspired his comrades and saved his platoon from destruction.
Just months later, in February 1944, Floyd Lindstrom was killed in action near Anzio. He was 31 years old.
Medal of Honor Citation
Place and date: Near Mignano, Italy, 11 November 1943.
Entered service at: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Birth: Holdredge, Nebr.
G.O. No.: 32, 20 April 1944.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 11 November 1943, this soldier’s platoon was furnishing machinegun support for a rifle company attacking a hill near Mignano, Italy, when the enemy counterattacked, forcing the riflemen and half the machinegun platoon to retire to a defensive position. Pfc. Lindstrom saw that his small section was alone and outnumbered 5 to 1, yet he immediately deployed the few remaining men into position and opened fire with his single gun. The enemy centered fire on him with machinegun, machine pistols, and grenades. Unable to knock out the enemy nest from his original position, Pfc. Lindstrom picked up his own heavy machinegun and staggered 15 yards up the barren, rocky hillside to a new position, completely ignoring enemy small arms fire which was striking all around him. From this new site, only 10 yards from the enemy machinegun, he engaged it in an intense duel. Realizing that he could not hit the hostile gunners because they were behind a large rock, he charged uphill under a steady stream of fire, killed both gunners with his pistol and dragged their gun down to his own men, directing them to employ it against the enemy. Disregarding heavy rifle fire, he returned to the enemy machinegun nest for 2 boxes of ammunition, came back and resumed withering fire from his own gun. His spectacular performance completely broke up the German counterattack. Pfc. Lindstrom demonstrated aggressive spirit and complete fearlessness in the face of almost certain death.
