Medal of Honor: Francis S. Currey – World War II – December 21, 1944

Name: Francis S. Currey
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company K, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division
Place and Date: Malmedy, Belgium – 21 December 1944
Entered Service At: Hurleyville, New York
Born: Loch Sheldrake, New York
Departed: Survived
Accredited To: New York

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Summary of Action

On December 21, 1944, near Malmedy, Belgium, Sergeant Francis S. Currey was serving as an automatic rifleman with the 3d Platoon when German forces launched a powerful armored and infantry assault against his unit’s strong point.

Enemy tanks overran nearby tank destroyers and antitank guns and advanced directly on the platoon’s position. After prolonged fighting, the platoon was forced to withdraw to a nearby factory. Inside the building, Currey located a bazooka and crossed an exposed street under intense fire to obtain rockets. Despite heavy fire from enemy tanks and infantry occupying a nearby house, he returned and, with a companion, knocked out an enemy tank with a single shot.

Changing positions repeatedly under fire, Currey engaged enemy infantry at close range, killing or wounding three Germans in the doorway of the enemy-held house with his automatic rifle. He then advanced alone to within 50 yards of the structure and, standing fully exposed, fired a rocket that collapsed half of one wall.

From this forward position, Currey observed five American soldiers who had been pinned down for hours by enemy fire from the house and three tanks. Realizing they could not escape unless the enemy positions were neutralized, he crossed the street again under heavy fire to obtain antitank grenades. He hurled them at the tanks, forcing the tank crews to abandon their vehicles and take refuge inside the house.

Currey then climbed onto a half-track in full view of the enemy and fired a machine gun into the house. Moving yet again, he manned another machine gun whose crew had been killed and provided covering fire that enabled the five trapped soldiers—two of them wounded—to withdraw safely.

Deprived of armor and suffering heavy infantry losses, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Currey’s skill with multiple weapons, repeated exposure to devastating fire, and fearless leadership were decisive in breaking the attack and saving his comrades.

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Medal of Honor Citation

He was an automatic rifleman with the 3d Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on 21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack. Overrunning tank destroyers and antitank guns located near the strong point, German tanks advanced to the 3d Platoon’s position, and, after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory. Sgt. Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position at a house a short distance away. In the face of small-arms, machinegun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion, knocked out a tank with 1 shot. Moving to another position, he observed 3 Germans in the doorway of an enemy-held house. He killed or wounded all 3 with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets. Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect, and fired a shot which knocked down half of 1 wall. While in this forward position, he observed 5 Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and 3 tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced, Sgt. Currey crossed the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank grenades. These he launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tankmen from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a half-track in full view of the Germans and fired a machinegun at the house. Once again changing his position, he manned another machinegun whose crew had been killed; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his extensive knowledge of weapons and by his heroic and repeated braving of murderous enemy fire, Sgt. Currey was greatly responsible for inflicting heavy losses in men and material on the enemy, for rescuing 5 comrades, 2 of whom were wounded, and for stemming an attack which threatened to flank his battalion’s position.