Medal of Honor: Morris E. Crain – U.S. Army – World War II

Name: Morris E. Crain
Rank: Technical Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company E, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
Place: Haguenau, France
Entered Service At: Paducah, Kentucky
Born: Bandana, Kentucky
G.O. No.: 18, 13 February 1946

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Summary of Action

During the fierce fighting to expand the Allied bridgehead across the Moder River near Haguenau, France, Technical Sergeant Morris E. Crain led his platoon against heavily defended German positions.

Demonstrating aggressive leadership, he personally spearheaded the attack that killed 10 enemy soldiers and captured 12 more while securing a critical objective near an important road junction.

Throughout the day, despite intense artillery, mortar, and self-propelled gun fire, Crain moved among his men encouraging them to hold their ground.

He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire while carrying ammunition and maintaining communication with the company command post.

As night fell, the enemy launched a powerful counterattack.

German tanks supported infantry assaulting the American positions with grenades and rockets while artillery blasted the surrounding buildings.

Forced to withdraw from house to house under the relentless attack, Crain quickly deployed another platoon sent to reinforce the defense.

Then, under murderous tank and small-arms fire, he rushed forward to a house being defended by five of his soldiers.

With German troops attacking from an adjoining room and a tank firing point-blank into the building, he ordered his men to withdraw.

Choosing to remain behind alone, he held the position to cover their escape.

As shells smashed through the walls and bullets tore through the structure, Crain continued fighting with his submachine gun.

In the final moments he killed three attacking German soldiers before the building was destroyed by enemy fire, killing him.

His heroic stand enabled his platoon to regroup, establish a new defensive line, and successfully repel the German assault.

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Medal of Honor Citation

CRAIN, MORRIS E.

Place and date: Haguenau, France, 13 March 1945.

Birth: Bandana, Ky.

He led his platoon against powerful German forces during the struggle to enlarge the bridgehead across the Moder River. With great daring and aggressiveness he spearheaded the platoon in killing 10 enemy soldiers, capturing 12 more and securing its objective near an important road junction. Although heavy concentrations of artillery, mortar, and self-propelled gunfire raked the area, he moved about among his men during the day, exhorting them to great efforts and encouraging them to stand firm. He carried ammunition and maintained contact with the company command post, exposing himself to deadly enemy fire. At nightfall the enemy barrage became more intense and tanks entered the fray to cover foot troops while they bombarded our positions with grenades and rockets. As buildings were blasted by the Germans, the Americans fell back from house to house. T/Sgt. Crain deployed another platoon which had been sent to his support and then rushed through murderous tank and small-arms fire to the foremost house, which was being defended by 5 of his men. With the enemy attacking from an adjoining room and a tank firing pointblank at the house, he ordered the men to withdraw while he remained in the face of almost certain death to hold the position. Although shells were crashing through the walls and bullets were hitting all around him, he held his ground and with accurate fire from his submachinegun killed 3 Germans. He was killed when the building was destroyed by the enemy. T/Sgt. Crain’s outstanding valor and intrepid leadership enabled his platoon to organize a new defense, repel the attack and preserve the hard-won bridgehead.