Medal of Honor: James H. Mills – World War II – May 24, 1944

Name: James H. Mills
Rank: Private
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company F, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 24, 1944
Location: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy

Summary of Action

On 24 May 1944, during the fierce fighting near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, Private James H. Mills displayed extraordinary heroism while experiencing combat for the very first time.

Leading the way down a draw ahead of his platoon, Mills advanced toward a heavily fortified German strongpoint from which the Americans planned to launch an assault.

After moving nearly three hundred yards forward, he suddenly encountered a German machine gun only a few yards away.

Reacting instantly, Mills killed the gunner with a single shot and forced the assistant gunner to surrender.

Continuing deeper into enemy territory, he spotted another German concealed behind camouflage and preparing to throw a grenade.

Covering the soldier with his rifle, Mills forced him to drop the grenade and surrender.

Moments later, another German attempted to throw a grenade into the draw, but Mills killed him before he could attack.

The fight intensified when enemy fire erupted from a machine gun, two machine pistols, and several rifles only fifty feet away.

Rather than retreat, Mills charged directly into the storm of automatic fire while firing his M1 rifle from the hip.

His sudden aggression completely demoralized the German defenders.

When he closed to within ten feet of the enemy position, all six German soldiers surrendered.

Still advancing alone, Mills soon came under fire from another machine gun twenty yards away.

Standing completely exposed with no cover whatsoever, he calmly fired one shot and killed the gunner.

Two nearby enemy soldiers fired wildly at him before attempting to flee.

Mills killed one of them and captured the other.

As the Americans prepared to assault the heavily fortified objective, it became clear that a frontal attack could cost many lives.

Mills immediately volunteered to draw enemy fire away from the advancing platoon.

Standing on the exposed bank of a shallow ditch less than one hundred yards from the enemy position, he shouted and fired directly into the German strongpoint.

Enemy tracers slashed past his body while bullets ricocheted around his feet, but Mills remained standing and continued firing until his rifle ran empty.

He repeatedly dropped back into the ditch to reload, climbed out again, and resumed firing in full view of the enemy.

Repeating the dangerous deception four separate times, Mills successfully diverted all enemy attention onto himself.

Because of his actions, his platoon was able to move into assault position completely undetected.

The Americans then stormed the strongpoint, captured twenty-two German soldiers, and seized the objective without suffering a single casualty.

His fearless actions during his baptism of fire became one of the most remarkable displays of individual courage during the Italian Campaign.

Medal of Honor Citation

MILLS, JAMES H.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Mills, undergoing his baptism of fire, preceded his platoon down a draw to reach a position from which an attack could be launched against a heavily fortified strongpoint. After advancing about 300 yards, Pvt. Mills was fired on by a machinegun only S yards distant. He killed the gunner with 1 shot and forced the surrender of the assistant gunner. Continuing his advance, he saw a German soldier in a camouflaged position behind a large bush pulling the pin of a potato-masher grenade. Covering the German with his rifle, Pvt. Mills forced him to drop the grenade and captured him. When another enemy soldier attempted to throw a hand grenade into the draw, Pvt. Mills killed him with 1 shot. Brought under fire by a machinegun, 2 machine pistols, and 3 rifles at a range of only 50 feet, he charged headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire shooting his M 1 from the hip. The enemy was completely demoralized by Pvt. Mills’ daring charge, and when he reached a point within 10 feet of their position, all 6 surrendered. As he neared the end of the draw, Pvt. Mills was brought under fire by a machinegunner 20 yards distant. Despite the fact that he had absolutely no cover, Pvt. Mills killed the gunner with 1 shot. Two enemy soldiers near the machinegunner fired wildly at Pvt. Mills and then fled. Pvt. Mills fired twice, killing 1 of the enemy. Continuing on to the position, he captured a fourth soldier. When it became apparent that an assault on the strongpoint would in all probability cause heavy casualties on the platoon, Pvt. Mills volunteered to cover the advance down a shallow ditch to a point within 50 yards of the objective. Standing on the bank in full view of the enemy less than 100 yards away, he shouted and fired his rifle directly into the position. His ruse worked exactly as planned. The enemy centered his fire on Pvt. Mills. Tracers passed within inches of his body, rifle and machine pistol bullets ricocheted off the rocks at his feet. Yet he stood there firing until his rifle was empty. Intent on covering the movement of his platoon, Pvt. Mills jumped into the draw, reloaded his weapon, climbed out again, and continued to lay down a base of fire. Repeating this action 4 times, he enabled his platoon to reach the designated spot undiscovered, from which position it assaulted and overwhelmed the enemy, capturing 22 Germans and taking the objective without casualties.