Medal of Honor: George B. Turner – World War II – France – January 1945
Cut off from his own unit, he stood alone in the street against tanks and infantry. With borrowed weapons and unyielding resolve, he turned a collapsing defense into survival and victory
January 3, 2026
Name: George B. Turner
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Battery C, 499th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 14th Armored Division
Place: Philippsbourg, France
Entered Service At: Los Angeles, California
Born: Longview, Texas
Summary of Action
On 3 January 1945, at Philippsbourg, France, Private First Class George B. Turner was cut off from his artillery unit during a fierce enemy armored infantry attack. Encountering a friendly infantry company withdrawing under intense pressure, he observed two German tanks and approximately seventy-five supporting infantry advancing down the main street of the town.
Without hesitation, Pfc. Turner seized a rocket launcher and advanced alone into the open street under heavy small-arms and cannon fire. Standing exposed in the roadway, he destroyed one enemy tank and disabled the second. He then dismounted a machine gun from a nearby half-track, emplaced it in the open street, and poured devastating fire into the advancing infantry, killing or wounding many and breaking up the attack.
During the ensuing American counterattack, two friendly tanks were disabled by an enemy antitank gun. Firing a light machine gun from the hip, Pfc. Turner held off the enemy so the tank crews could escape. He then ran through intense fire to a burning tank in an attempt to rescue a trapped crewman, but an explosion of ammunition thwarted the rescue and severely wounded him.
Refusing evacuation, Pfc. Turner remained in action until the following day. He helped repel an enemy patrol with heavy casualties, assisted in capturing a hostile strongpoint, and voluntarily drove a truck through heavy enemy fire to evacuate wounded soldiers to the rear. His fearless initiative and extraordinary courage materially contributed to the successful defense of Philippsbourg and inspired all who fought beside him.
Medal of Honor Citation
From a nearby half-track he then dismounted a machinegun, placed it in the open street and fired into the enemy infantrymen, killing or wounding a great number and breaking up the attack. In the American counterattack which followed, 2 supporting tanks were disabled by an enemy antitank gun. Firing a light machinegun from the hip, Pfc. Turner held off the enemy so that the crews of the disabled vehicles could extricate themselves.
He ran through a hail of fire to one of the tanks which had burst into flames and attempted to rescue a man who had been unable to escape; but an explosion of the tank’s ammunition frustrated his effort and wounded him painfully. Refusing to be evacuated, he remained with the infantry until the following day, driving off an enemy patrol with serious casualties, assisting in capturing a hostile strong point, and Ottawa and voluntarily and fearlessly driving a truck through heavy enemy fire to deliver wounded men to the rear aid station. The great courage displayed by Pfc. Turner and his magnificently heroic initiative contributed materially to the defense of the French town and inspired the troops about him.
