Medal of Honor: Private First Class Gino J. Merli Rank, World War II, September 4–5, 1944

Name: Gino J. Merli
Rank: Private First Class
Conflict: World War II
Unit: 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: September 4–5, 1944
Location: Near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium

Summary of Action

The 1st Infantry Division—“The Big Red One”—had been driving relentlessly across Europe since D-Day. By September 1944, they were in Belgium, pushing toward Germany, when Pfc. Gino Merli’s company came under a ferocious counterattack by superior German forces. His machine-gun position quickly became the last line of resistance as waves of German infantry advanced, supported by overwhelming firepower.

Merli’s assistant gunner was killed beside him, and the other men of his section were captured. Alone, surrounded, and under withering fire, Merli slumped next to his dead comrade and feigned death when the Germans searched the position. As soon as they moved on, he sprang up, raked the enemy with fire, and cut them down.

Again and again through the night the cycle repeated: capture, feigned death, sudden resurgence, and devastating fire. Merli’s relentless defiance not only inflicted enormous casualties but also sowed fear and confusion in the enemy ranks. When dawn broke and American forces counterattacked, they found Merli still manning his gun, exhausted but unshaken. The field before him was littered with 52 enemy dead—19 of them directly in front of his gun.

Merli’s stand turned what could have been annihilation into survival for his company and victory for his division.

Medal of Honor Citation

He was serving as a machine gunner in the vicinity of Sars la Bruyere, Belgium, on the night of 4–5 September 1944, when his company was attacked by a superior German force. Its position was overrun and he was surrounded when our troops were driven back by overwhelming numbers and firepower. Disregarding the fury of the enemy fire concentrated on him he maintained his position, covering the withdrawal of our riflemen and breaking the force of the enemy pressure. His assistant machine gunner was killed and the position captured; the other 8 members of the section were forced to surrender. Pfc. Merli slumped down beside the dead assistant gunner and feigned death. No sooner had the enemy group withdrawn then he was up and firing in all directions. Once more his position was taken and the captors found 2 apparently lifeless bodies. Throughout the night Pfc. Merli stayed at his weapon. By daybreak the enemy had suffered heavy losses, and as our troops launched an assault, asked for a truce. Our negotiating party, who accepted the German surrender, found Pfc. Merli still at his gun. On the battlefield lay 52 enemy dead, 19 of whom were directly in front of the gun. Pfc. Merli’s gallantry and courage, and the losses and confusion that he caused the enemy, contributed materially to our victory.