Medal of Honor: Henry F. Warner – World War II – December 20–21, 1944

Name: Henry F. Warner
Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Antitank Company, 2d Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Dom Bütgenbach, Belgium – 20–21 December 1944
Entered Service At: Troy, North Carolina
Born: August 23, 1923 – Troy, North Carolina
Departed: December 21, 1944 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: North Carolina

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Summary of Action

On December 20–21, 1944, near Dom Bütgenbach, Belgium, Corporal Henry F. Warner was serving as a 57-mm antitank gunner during repeated heavy German armored attacks against the positions of the 2d Battalion, 26th Infantry, in the opening days of the Ardennes offensive.

During the early morning attack on December 20, enemy tanks penetrated portions of the battalion’s line. Disregarding intense cannon and machine-gun fire from two tanks advancing directly toward his position—and ignoring the threat of enemy infantry moving under tank cover—Warner destroyed the first tank and then scored a direct hit on a second.

As a third tank advanced to within five yards of his gun position while his weapon was jammed, Warner leapt from his gun pit and engaged the tank commander in a pistol duel. Killing the enemy officer, he forced the tank to withdraw.

Throughout the day and night that followed, Warner’s unit endured constant artillery and mortar fire and repeated infantry assaults. In the early morning hours of December 21, the enemy again attacked in strength. When a Mark IV tank emerged from the mist and advanced toward his position, Warner scored another direct hit.

Despite being wounded, he attempted to complete loading the gun to fire again at the burning tank. Before he could do so, a burst of enemy machine-gun fire struck and killed him at his weapon.

Warner’s steadfast courage and determination under overwhelming fire played a decisive role in stopping enemy armor and holding the battalion’s line during one of the most critical phases of the Battle of the Bulge.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Serving as 57-mm. antitank gunner with the 2d Battalion, he was a major factor in stopping enemy tanks during heavy attacks against the battalion position near Dom Bütgenbach, Belgium, on 20–21 December 1944. In the first attack, launched in the early morning of the 20th, enemy tanks succeeded in penetrating parts of the line. Cpl. Warner, disregarding the concentrated cannon and machinegun fire from 2 tanks bearing down on him, and ignoring the imminent danger of being overrun by the infantry moving under tank cover, destroyed the first tank and scored a direct and deadly hit upon the second. A third tank approached to within 5 yards of his position while he was attempting to clear a jammed breech lock. Jumping from his gun pit, he engaged in a pistol duel with the tank commander standing in the turret, killing him and forcing the tank to withdraw. Following a day and night during which our forces were subjected to constant shelling, mortar barrages, and numerous unsuccessful infantry attacks, the enemy struck in great force on the early morning of the 21st. Seeing a Mark IV tank looming out of the mist and heading toward his position, Cpl. Warner scored a direct hit. Disregarding his injuries, he endeavored to finish the loading and again fire at the tank whose motor was now aflame, when a second machinegun burst killed him. Cpl. Warner’s gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty contributed materially to the successful defense against the enemy attacks.