Medal of Honor: George Peterson – World War II – March 30, 1945

Name: George Peterson
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: March 30, 1945
Location: Near Eisern, Germany

Summary of Action

On 30 March 1945, Staff Sergeant George Peterson was serving as acting platoon sergeant with Company K near Eisern, Germany.

His company encountered an enemy battalion and came under heavy small-arms, machine-gun, and mortar fire.

The 2d Platoon was ordered to flank the enemy while the rest of the company attacked frontally.

Peterson moved to the front, creeping and crawling into position, then signaled the platoon to follow.

A mortar shell exploded nearby and severely wounded both of his legs.

Bleeding heavily and in intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued the attack.

Soon two enemy machine guns opened fire at close range.

Ignoring the grazing bullets, Peterson crawled alone toward the positions.

Reaching a shallow draw, he raised himself to his knees and threw a grenade into the first nest, silencing the weapon and killing or wounding the crew.

The second machine gun immediately turned on him.

Calmly and deliberately, he hurled another grenade, destroying the position and killing all four Germans manning it.

Still pressing forward, he was spotted by an enemy rifleman and shot in the arm.

Undeterred, he crawled another twenty yards until a third machine gun opened fire.

Weak from blood loss and agony, Peterson again forced himself upright and fired a rifle grenade into the emplacement, killing three of the crew and driving the fourth to flee.

With the objective secured, he was finally receiving treatment from the company aid man when he saw one of his outpost soldiers badly wounded by mortar fire.

He tore himself away from treatment and began crawling forward to rescue the man.

He had nearly reached his comrade when an enemy bullet struck him fatally.

By destroying three machine-gun positions while grievously wounded, George Peterson enabled his company to advance with minimal casualties and left a lasting example of courage and selfless leadership.

Medal of Honor Citation

PETERSON, GEORGE

He was an acting platoon sergeant with Company K, near Eisern, Germany. When his company encountered an enemy battalion and came under heavy small-arms, machinegun, and mortar fire, the 2d Platoon was given the mission of flanking the enemy positions while the remaining units attacked frontally. S/Sgt. Peterson crept and crawled to a position in the lead and motioned for the 2d Platoon to follow. A mortar shell fell close by and severely wounded him in the legs, but, although bleeding and suffering intense pain, he refused to withdraw and continued forward. Two hostile machineguns went into action at close range. Braving this grazing fire, he crawled steadily toward the guns and worked his way alone to a shallow draw, where, despite the hail of bullets, he raised himself to his knees and threw a grenade into the nearest machinegun nest, silencing the weapon and killing or wounding all its crew. The second gun was immediately turned on him, but he calmly and deliberately threw a second grenade which rocked the position and killed all 4 Germans who occupied it. As he continued forward he was spotted by an enemy rifleman, who shot him in the arm. Undeterred, he crawled some 20 yards until a third machinegun opened fire on him. By almost superhuman effort, weak from loss of blood and suffering great pain, he again raised himself to his knees and fired a grenade from his rifle, killing 3 of the enemy guncrew and causing the remaining one to flee. With the first objective seized, he was being treated by the company aid man when he observed 1 of his outpost men seriously wounded by a mortar burst. He wrenched himself from the hands of the aid man and began to crawl forward to assist his comrade, whom he had almost reached when he was struck and fatally wounded by an enemy bullet. S/Sgt. Peterson, by his gallant, intrepid actions, unrelenting fighting spirit, and outstanding initiative, silenced 3 enemy machineguns against great odds and while suffering from severe wounds, enabling his company to advance with minimum casualties.