Medal of Honor: Robert E. Laws – World War II – Philippines – January 1945

Name: Robert E. Laws
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company G, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43d Infantry Division
Place: Pangasinan Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands
Entered Service At: Altoona, Pennsylvania
Born: Altoona, Pennsylvania

---

Summary of Action

On 12 January 1945, during combat operations in Pangasinan Province on Luzon, Staff Sergeant Robert E. Laws led the assault squad of Company G against a heavily fortified enemy hill position. The Japanese force, estimated at reinforced company strength, was well supplied with machineguns, grenades, and demolition charges. The position could be attacked only by crossing a narrow ridge approximately 70 yards long, fully exposed to enemy fire.

At the end of the ridge stood an enemy pillbox supported by entrenched riflemen. Covered by his squad, Staff Sergeant Laws advanced across the exposed hogback through intense fire and closed on the pillbox. Despite being wounded by enemy grenades, he continued his assault, hurling grenades until one found its mark and destroyed the fortification.

Receiving additional grenades from his squad as they joined him, he immediately led the attack uphill against the rifle positions. During the advance, he sustained multiple additional wounds to his arms, legs, body, and head from exploding grenades and TNT charges. When three enemy soldiers charged him with fixed bayonets, he emptied his submachine gun at them, killing two. He then engaged the third in hand-to-hand combat, seizing the enemy’s rifle as they struggled and rolled down an embankment. When the fight ended, the enemy soldier lay dead, and Staff Sergeant Laws—bleeding from a severe head wound—climbed back up the slope to continue the attack.

Only after the position was secured by his squad was he given first aid and evacuated. His fearless leadership and unyielding determination under extreme conditions enabled Company G to seize a critical objective with minimal casualties.

---

Medal of Honor Citation

He led the assault squad when Company G attacked enemy hill positions. The enemy force, estimated to be a reinforced infantry company, was well supplied with machineguns, ammunition, grenades, and blocks of TNT and could be attacked only across a narrow ridge 70 yards long. At the end of this ridge an enemy pillbox and rifle positions were set in rising ground. Covered by his squad, S/Sgt. Laws traversed the hogback through vicious enemy fire until close to the pillbox, where he hurled grenades at the fortification.

Enemy grenades wounded him, but he persisted in his assault until one of his missiles found its mark and knocked out the pillbox. With more grenades, passed to him by members of his squad who had joined him, he led the attack on the entrenched riflemen. In the advance up the hill, he suffered additional wounds in both arms and legs, about the body and in the head, as grenades and TNT charges exploded near him. Three enemy soldiers rushed him with fixed bayonets, and he emptied the magazine of his machine pistol at them, killing two. He closed in hand-to-hand combat with the third, seizing the enemy’s rifle as he met the onslaught. The two fell to the ground and rolled some 50 or 60 feet down a bank. When the dust cleared the enemy lay dead and the valiant American was climbing up the hill with a large gash across the head. He was given first aid and evacuated from the area while his squad completed the destruction of the enemy position. S/Sgt. Laws’ heroic actions provided great inspiration to his comrades, and his courageous determination, in the face of formidable odds and while suffering from multiple wounds, enabled them to secure an important objective with minimum casualties.