Medal of Honor: Richard Eller Cowan – World War II – December 17, 1944

Name: Richard Eller Cowan
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company M, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Krinkelter Wald, Belgium – 17 December 1944
Entered Service At: Wichita, Kansas
Born: Lincoln, Nebraska
Departed: Killed in action
Accredited To: Kansas

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Summary of Action

On December 17, 1944, near Krinkelter Wald, Belgium, Private First Class Richard E. Cowan was serving as a heavy machine gunner with a section attached to Company I when the unit came under a massive German assault supported by tanks.

Wave after wave of enemy infantry attacked. Six assaults were repelled with heavy losses to the enemy, but during a seventh attack supported by tanks, all but three men of Cowan’s section were killed or wounded. Left with only 15 to 20 riflemen for support, Cowan continued to man his machine gun, holding his position long enough for the shattered force to establish a new defensive line along a firebreak.

Without assistance, he then moved his machine gun and ammunition to the new position. As a German Royal Tiger tank advanced, Cowan withheld fire until approximately 80 enemy infantry supporting the tank came into view. When they closed to 150 yards, his opening burst killed or wounded nearly half of them.

The enemy tank opened fire, rocking Cowan’s position with an 88mm shell. Despite the blast, and under fire from multiple machine guns, small arms, and rockets, Cowan remained at his weapon and continued to deliver deadly fire into the advancing enemy. Even as infiltration made the position untenable, he refused to withdraw until ordered.

Voluntarily remaining behind, Cowan covered the withdrawal of the last surviving members of his unit. Only after ensuring their escape did he leave his position. His actions alone made possible the successful withdrawal of the remaining American soldiers from what had become a last-ditch stand.

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Medal of Honor Citation

He was a heavy machinegunner in a section attached to Company I in the vicinity of Krinkelter Wald, Belgium, 17 December 1944, when that company was attacked by a numerically superior force of German infantry and tanks. The first 6 waves of hostile infantrymen were repulsed with heavy casualties, but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but 3 of his section, leaving Pvt. Cowan to man his gun, supported by only 15 to 20 riflemen of Company I. He maintained his position, holding off the Germans until the rest of the shattered force had set up a new line along a firebreak. Then, unaided, he moved his machinegun and ammunition to the second position. At the approach of a Royal Tiger tank, he held his fire until about 80 enemy infantrymen supporting the tank appeared at a distance of about 150 yards. His first burst killed or wounded about half of these infantrymen. His position was rocked by an 88mm. shell when the tank opened fire, but he continued to man his gun, pouring deadly fire into the Germans when they again advanced. He was barely missed by another shell. Fire from three machineguns and innumerable small arms struck all about him; an enemy rocket shook him badly, but did not drive him from his gun. Infiltration by the enemy had by this time made the position untenable, and the order was given to withdraw. Pvt. Cowan was the last man to leave, voluntarily covering the withdrawal of his remaining comrades. His heroic actions were entirely responsible for allowing the remaining men to retire successfully from the scene of their last-ditch stand.