Medal of Honor: John W. Minick – World War II – November 21, 1944

Name: John W. Minick
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company I, 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Hurtgen, Germany – 21 November 1944
Entered Service At: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Born: June 23, 1908 – Wall, Pennsylvania
Departed: November 21, 1944 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Pennsylvania

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Summary of Action

On November 21, 1944, Staff Sergeant John W. Minick faced the full terror of the Hürtgen Forest — a maze of mines, wire, mud, and hidden German strongpoints. His battalion’s advance had stalled at the edge of a massive minefield, exposed to punishing artillery and mortar fire. Staying still meant certain loss of life; moving forward seemed impossible.

Minick volunteered to lead the way.

With four men behind him, he pushed through barbed wire and debris until he successfully cut a safe passage through 300 yards of dense mines. When a German machine gun opened fire, he ordered his men to cover, then crawled alone toward the flank. His sudden assault killed two gunners and forced three more to surrender.

Continuing forward, Minick encountered an entire German company. Fighting alone, he killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured 20 more — breaking the position wide open and enabling his platoon to seize the rest.

Still pushing ahead, he crawled under fire once more and destroyed a second machine gun position. Then came yet another minefield. Without hesitation, Minick advanced alone, determined to clear the path for his battalion.

A hidden mine detonated beneath him. He was killed instantly — still far ahead of his men, still leading from the front.

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Medal of Honor Citation

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict with the enemy on 21 November 1944, near Hurtgen, Germany. S/Sgt. Minick’s battalion was halted in its advance by extensive minefields, exposing troops to heavy concentrations of enemy artillery and mortar fire. Further delay in the advance would result in numerous casualties and a movement through the minefield was essential. Voluntarily, S/Sgt. Minick led 4 men through hazardous barbed wire and debris, finally making his way through the minefield for a distance of 300 yards. When an enemy machinegun opened fire, he signaled his men to take covered positions, edged his way alone toward the flank of the weapon and opened fire, killing 2 members of the guncrew and capturing 3 others. Moving forward again, he encountered and engaged single-handedly an entire company killing 20 Germans and capturing 20, and enabling his platoon to capture the remainder of the hostile group. Again moving ahead and spearheading his battalion’s advance, he again encountered machinegun fire. Crawling forward toward the weapon, he reached a point from which he knocked the weapon out of action. Still another minefield had to be crossed. Undeterred, S/Sgt. Minick advanced forward alone through constant enemy fire and while thus moving, detonated a mine and was instantly killed.