Medal of Honor: Raymond Zussman, World War II, September 12, 1944

Name: Raymond Zussman

War: World War II
Date of Action: September 12, 1944
Place: Noroy le Bourg, France
Unit: 756th Tank Battalion
Rank: Second Lieutenant

Summary of Action

When the small French village of Noroy le Bourg bristled with German defenders, 2nd Lt. Zussman led the way. His command tank became bogged down, leaving him with only one tank and infantry support. Refusing to be deterred, Zussman advanced alone on foot, scouting targets, flushing out enemy positions, and returning only to guide his single remaining tank forward.

At a roadblock, under fire from positions just 50 yards away, he calmly directed tank fire that killed three Germans and forced eight to surrender. He then pressed forward into machinegun fire, personally leading his tank against fortified houses. Twenty more Germans surrendered.

Time and again, Zussman went ahead alone, his carbine fire echoing in the narrow streets. From one house, Germans fired and threw grenades—he fought them off until his tank arrived, killing 11 and forcing 15 more to yield. Vanishing around another corner, he soon reappeared—driving 30 captured enemy soldiers before him.

By day’s end, through fearless initiative and relentless aggression, Zussman’s leadership broke enemy resistance, killing 18 and capturing 92 Germans almost single-handedly.

Medal of Honor Citation

On 12 September 1944, 2d Lt. Zussman was in command of 2 tanks operating with an infantry company in the attack on enemy forces occupying the town of Noroy le Bourg, France. At 7 p.m., his command tank bogged down. Throughout the ensuing action, armed only with a carbine, he reconnoitered alone on foot far in advance of his remaining tank and the infantry. Returning only from time to time to designate targets, he directed the action of the tank and turned over to the infantry the numerous German soldiers he had caused to surrender. He located a road block and directed his tanks to destroy it. Fully exposed to fire from enemy positions only 50 yards distant, he stood by his tank directing its fire. Three Germans were killed and 8 surrendered. Again he walked before his tank, leading it against an enemy-held group of houses, machinegun and small arms fire kicking up dust at his feet. The tank fire broke the resistance and 20 enemy surrendered. Going forward again alone he passed an enemy-occupied house from which Germans fired on him and threw grenades in his path. After a brief fire fight, he signaled his tank to come up and fire on the house. Eleven German soldiers were killed and 15 surrendered. Going on alone, he disappeared around a street corner. The fire of his carbine could be heard and in a few minutes he reappeared driving 30 prisoners before him. Under 2d Lt. Zussman’s heroic and inspiring leadership, 18 enemy soldiers were killed and 92 captured.