Medal of Honor: Harmon L. Slaton, World War II, September 23, 1943

Name: Harmon L. Slaton
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army
War: World War II
Date of Action: September 23, 1943
Unit: 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
Place: Near Oliveto, Italy
Born: April 2, 1912, Laurel, Mississippi

Summary of Action

On September 23, 1943, near Oliveto, Italy, Corporal Harmon L. Slaton served as the lead scout of an infantry squad tasked with clearing enemy positions that had pinned down two rifle platoons under murderous fire.

Working ahead of his squad, Slaton crept upon the first machine-gun nest. Charging in with his bayonet, he killed the gunner, then freed his weapon and shot another enemy soldier with rifle fire. Almost immediately, another machine gun to his left opened up. Moving across open ground under constant fire, Slaton closed in, hurled grenades, and on his second throw destroyed the nest, killing two gunners.

Undaunted, he pressed forward until a third machine gun, positioned a hundred yards to his front, opened fire. With cool precision, Slaton dropped both gunners with his rifle. By the end of his lone assault, three enemy strongpoints had been silenced.

Because of Corporal Slaton’s daring actions, the trapped American platoons were able to withdraw to safety, regroup, and rejoin the fight. Ordered to pull back at dusk, he withdrew under mortar fire, his heroism already written into the day’s outcome.

Official Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy in the vicinity of Oliveto, Italy, on 23 September 1943. Cpl. Slaton was lead scout of an infantry squad which had been committed to a flank to knock out enemy resistance which had succeeded in pinning 2 attacking platoons to the ground. Working ahead of his squad, Cpl. Slaton crept upon an enemy machinegun nest and, assaulting it with his bayonet, succeeded in killing the gunner. When his bayonet stuck, he detached it from the rifle and killed another gunner with rifle fire. At that time he was fired upon by a machinegun to his immediate left. Cpl. Slaton then moved over open ground under constant fire to within throwing distance, and on his second try scored a direct hit on the second enemy machinegun nest, killing 2 enemy gunners. At that time a third machinegun fired on him 100 yards to his front, and Cpl. Slaton killed both of these enemy gunners with rifle fire. As a result of Cpl. Slaton’s heroic action in immobilizing 3 enemy machinegun nests with bayonet, grenade, and rifle fire, the 2 rifle platoons which were receiving heavy casualties from enemy fire were enabled to withdraw to covered positions and again take the initiative. Cpl. Slaton withdrew under mortar fire on order of his platoon leader at dusk that evening. The heroic actions of Cpl. Slaton were far above and beyond the call of duty and are worthy of emulation.