Name: John R. Fox
Rank: First Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92d Infantry Division
Attached Unit: 598th Field Artillery Battalion (Forward Observer)
Place: Vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy
Summary of Action
In the early morning hours of 26 December 1944, First Lieutenant John R. Fox was serving as a forward artillery observer in the mountain village of Sommocolonia, Italy. During the night, German soldiers infiltrated the town disguised in civilian clothing, and by dawn the village was largely under enemy control. At 0400 hours, the enemy began a coordinated assault supported by heavy artillery fire.
Greatly outnumbered, most U.S. infantry units were forced to withdraw. Lieutenant Fox and several members of his observer party voluntarily remained behind on the second floor of a house to direct defensive artillery fire. As German troops advanced through the streets and closed in on his position, Lieutenant Fox calmly adjusted artillery fire closer and closer to his own location to slow the enemy advance.
Warned that the next adjustment would place artillery fire directly on his position, Lieutenant Fox acknowledged the danger and resolutely insisted the fire mission be executed, knowing it would result in his death. When American forces later counterattacked and retook the village, Lieutenant Fox was found dead alongside approximately 100 enemy soldiers. His selfless decision delayed the enemy long enough for U.S. forces to reorganize and repel the attack.
Medal of Honor Citation
FOX, JOHN R.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy, 26 December 1944.
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy on 26 December 1944, while serving as a member of Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92d Infantry Division. During the preceding few weeks, Lieutenant Fox served with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion as a forward observer. On Christmas night, enemy soldiers gradually infiltrated the town of Sommocolonia in civilian clothes, and by early morning the town was largely in hostile hands. Commencing with a heavy barrage of enemy artillery at 0400 hours on 26 December 1944, an organized attack by uniformed German units began. Being greatly outnumbered, most of the United States Infantry forces were forced to withdraw from the town, but Lieutenant Fox and some other members of his observer party voluntarily remained on the second floor of a house to direct defensive artillery fire. At 0800 hours, Lieutenant Fox reported that the Germans were in the streets and attacking in strength. He then called for defensive artillery fire to slow the enemy advance. As the Germans continued to press the attack towards the area that Lieutenant Fox occupied, he adjusted the artillery fire closer to his position. Finally he was warned that the next adjustment would bring the deadly artillery right on top of his position. After acknowledging the danger, Lieutenant Fox insisted that the last adjustment be fired as this was the only way to defeat the attacking soldiers. Later, when a counterattack retook the position from the Germans, Lieutenant Fox’s body was found with the bodies of approximately 100 German soldiers. Lieutenant Fox’s gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, contributed greatly to delaying the enemy advance until other infantry and artillery units could reorganize to repel the attack. His extraordinary valorous actions were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
Name: John R. Fox
