Medal of Honor: Keith L. Ware – World War II – France – December 1944

Name: Keith L. Ware
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Place: Near Sigolsheim, France
Entered Service At: Glendale, California
Born: Denver, Colorado

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Summary of Action

On 26 December 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Keith L. Ware commanded the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, during an attack against a strongly defended hill near Sigolsheim, France. One of his assault companies had been halted by intense enemy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire and had suffered casualties while attempting to advance.

Recognizing that the situation demanded personal leadership, Lieutenant Colonel Ware moved 150 yards beyond his forward elements and, for two hours, deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire to locate hostile positions. His actions drew fire that revealed the enemy’s dispositions. Returning to his men, he armed himself with an automatic rifle and personally led a small assault force forward under fire.

Methodically, Lieutenant Colonel Ware attacked successive enemy machinegun positions—killing enemy riflemen, forcing surrenders, and directing tank fire to destroy entrenched guns. Even after exhausting his ammunition and being wounded, he refused medical treatment and continued leading the assault until the hill was completely cleared and securely held by his battalion. His fearless leadership broke the enemy defense and restored momentum to the attack.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Commanding the 1st Battalion attacking a strongly held enemy position on a hill near Sigolsheim, France, on 26 December 1944, found that 1 of his assault companies had been stopped and forced to dig in by a concentration of enemy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire. The company had suffered casualties in attempting to take the hill. Realizing that his men must be inspired to new courage, Lt. Col. Ware went forward 150 yards beyond the most forward elements of his command, and for 2 hours reconnoitered the enemy positions, deliberately drawing fire upon himself which caused the enemy to disclose his dispositions.

Returning to his company, he armed himself with an automatic rifle and boldly advanced upon the enemy, followed by 2 officers, 9 enlisted men, and a tank. Approaching an enemy machinegun, Lt. Col. Ware shot 2 German riflemen and fired tracers into the emplacement, indicating its position to his tank, which promptly knocked the gun out of action. Lt. Col. Ware turned his attention to a second machinegun, killing 2 of its supporting riflemen and forcing the others to surrender. The tank destroyed the gun.

Having expended the ammunition for the automatic rifle, Lt. Col. Ware took up an M1 rifle, killed a German rifleman, and fired upon a third machinegun 50 yards away. His tank silenced the gun. Upon his approach to a fourth machinegun, its supporting riflemen surrendered and his tank disposed of the gun. During this action Lt. Col. Ware’s small assault group was fully engaged in attacking enemy positions that were not receiving his direct and personal attention. Five of his party of 11 were casualties and Lt. Col. Ware was wounded but refused medical attention until this important hill position was cleared of the enemy and securely occupied by his command.