MOH

Medal of Honor: Herbert H. Burr – U.S. Army – World War II

His tank was hit. The crew bailed out. He stayed—and drove straight at an enemy gun alone.

March 19, 2026

Name: Herbert H. Burr
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 41st Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division
Place: Near Dörmoschel, Germany
Entered Service At: Kansas City, Missouri
Born: St. Joseph, Missouri
G.O. No.: 73, 30 August 1945

Summary of Action

During operations near Dörmoschel, Germany, S/Sgt. Herbert H. Burr was serving as a bow gunner when his tank was struck by an enemy rocket.

The blast severely wounded the platoon sergeant and forced the rest of the crew to abandon the vehicle.

Burr, though deafened, remained uninjured.

Instead of abandoning the tank, he climbed into the driver’s seat and continued the mission alone—pressing forward into the town to reconnoiter the road.

As he rounded a turn, he suddenly came face-to-face with a German 88mm antitank gun at point-blank range.

He had no crew. No one to man the weapons.

Only seconds remained.

Rather than retreat, Burr accelerated.

Driving directly at the fully manned gun, he closed the distance before the enemy could react. The sheer audacity of the attack stunned the gun crew, and Burr drove his tank over the weapon, crushing it and scattering the enemy.

Continuing his aggressive action, he sideswiped and overturned a large truck before turning his tank and returning to friendly lines.

When medics arrived to treat the wounded platoon sergeant but could not locate him, Burr again exposed himself—running through sniper fire to guide them to his comrade.

Medal of Honor Citation

BURR, HERBERT H.

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 41st Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division.
Place and date: Near Dörmoschel, Germany, 19 March 1945.
Entered service at: Kansas City, Mo.
Birth: St. Joseph, Mo.
G.O. No.: 73, 30 August 1945.

Citation:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry during action when the tank in which he was bow gunner was hit by an enemy rocket, which severely wounded the platoon sergeant and forced the remainder of the crew to abandon the vehicle. Deafened, but otherwise unhurt, S/Sgt. Burr immediately climbed into the driver’s seat and continued on the mission of entering the town to reconnoiter road conditions. As he rounded a turn he encountered an 88-mm. antitank gun at pointblank range. Realizing that he had no crew, no one to man the tank’s guns, he heroically chose to disregard his personal safety in a direct charge on the German weapon. At considerable speed he headed straight for the loaded gun, which was fully manned by enemy troops who had only to pull the lanyard to send a shell into his vehicle. So unexpected and daring was his assault that he was able to drive his tank completely over the gun, demolishing it and causing its crew to flee in confusion. He then skillfully sideswiped a large truck, overturned it, and wheeling his lumbering vehicle, returned to his company. When medical personnel who had been summoned to treat the wounded sergeant could not locate him, the valiant soldier ran through a hail of sniper fire to direct them to his stricken comrade. The bold, fearless determination of S/Sgt. Burr, his skill and courageous devotion to duty, resulted in the completion of his mission in the face of seemingly impossible odds.