MOH

Medal of Honor: Truman Kimbro – World War II – December 19, 1944

With enemy armor blocking a vital crossroads, one combat engineer crawled forward alone—laying his mines under fire so others could escape.

December 20, 2025

Name: Truman Kimbro
Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Rocherath, Belgium – 19 December 1944
Entered Service At: Houston, Texas
Born: Madisonville, Texas
Departed: Killed in action
Accredited To: Texas

Summary of Action

On December 19, 1944, near Rocherath, Belgium, Technician Fourth Grade Truman Kimbro was serving as a scout with a combat engineer unit tasked with mining a vital crossroads during the German Ardennes counteroffensive. The position was critical to delaying enemy armor and protecting the rear of withdrawing American forces.

During the first attempt to reach the crossroads, Kimbro discovered it was occupied by an enemy tank supported by at least twenty infantrymen. His squad was driven back by intense enemy fire. Undeterred, Kimbro made two additional attempts to lead his men forward, but every approach was swept by devastating fire.

Despite repeated warnings from nearby infantry units about the extreme danger, Kimbro ordered his squad to remain in cover. Carrying the mines himself, he crawled forward alone toward the enemy-held crossroads. As he neared the objective, he was severely wounded, yet he continued to drag himself onward and succeeded in laying the mines across the road.

As he attempted to withdraw, Kimbro was struck repeatedly by rifle and machine-gun fire and mortally wounded. The mines he emplaced delayed the advance of enemy armor and prevented German forces from striking the rear of withdrawing American columns. His selfless action directly contributed to saving the lives of countless soldiers during the chaotic fighting in the Ardennes.

Medal of Honor Citation

KIMBRO, TRUMAN
Rank and organization: Technician Fourth Grade, U.S. Army, Company C, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Rocherath, Belgium, 19 December 1944.
Entered service at: Houston, Tex.
Birth: Madisonville, Tex.
G.O. No.: 42, 24 May 1945.

Citation:
On 19 December 1944, as scout, he led a squad assigned to the mission of mining a vital crossroads near Rocherath, Belgium. At the first attempt to reach the objective, he discovered it was occupied by an enemy tank and at least 20 infantrymen. Driven back by withering fire, Technician 4th Grade Kimbro made 2 more attempts to lead his squad to the crossroads but all approaches were covered by intense enemy fire. Although warned by our own infantrymen of the great danger involved, he left his squad in a protected place and, laden with mines, crawled alone toward the crossroads. When nearing his objective he was severely wounded, but he continued to drag himself forward and laid his mines across the road. As he tried to crawl from the objective his body was riddled with rifle and machinegun fire. The mines laid by his act of indomitable courage delayed the advance of enemy armor and prevented the rear of our withdrawing columns from being attacked by the enemy.