Medal of Honor: Walter J. Will – World War II – March 30, 1945

Name: Walter J. Will
Rank: First Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: March 30, 1945
Location: Near Eisern, Germany

Summary of Action

On 30 March 1945, First Lieutenant Walter J. Will led Company K in an assault against powerful enemy positions near Eisern, Germany.

During the opening stages of the attack, intense enemy fire struck down several soldiers in exposed ground.

Will repeatedly left cover and moved through withering fire to rescue two wounded men.

Though painfully wounded himself, he made a third trip to carry another soldier to safety.

Ignoring heavy bleeding, he returned to command his platoon and continued the advance.

Soon the attack was halted by murderous flanking fire from two German machine guns.

Will crawled forward alone through direct fire until he was within thirty feet of the first position.

With accurate grenade throws, he killed the four-man crew and silenced the gun.

He then crawled onward through heavy fire toward the second emplacement.

When he reached within twenty feet, he suddenly rose and launched a lone, ferocious charge.

The shocked enemy surrendered, and Will captured the gun along with its nine-man crew.

Seeing another American platoon pinned down by two additional machine guns, he immediately led a squad on a flanking maneuver.

Rising to his knees under direct fire, he calmly threw three grenades that destroyed one position and killed its crew.

With relentless aggressiveness, he charged the remaining gun and knocked it out with grenades as well.

Returning once more to his own platoon, Will led a final inspired assault that sent the enemy retreating in confusion.

During this last attack, he was mortally wounded.

His fearless leadership, repeated self-sacrifice, and indomitable courage became a lasting inspiration to all who witnessed his actions.

Medal of Honor Citation

WILL, WALTER J.

He displayed conspicuous gallantry during an attack on powerful enemy positions. He courageously exposed himself to withering hostile fire to rescue 2 wounded men and then, although painfully wounded himself, made a third trip to carry another soldier to safety from an open area. Ignoring the profuse bleeding of his wound, he gallantly led men of his platoon forward until they were pinned down by murderous flanking fire from 2 enemy machineguns. He fearlessly crawled alone to within 30 feet of the first enemy position, killed the crew of 4 and silenced the gun with accurate grenade fire. He continued to crawl through intense enemy fire to within 20 feet of the second position where he leaped to his feet, made a lone, ferocious charge and captured the gun and its 9-man crew. Observing another platoon pinned down by 2 more German machineguns, he led a squad on a flanking approach and, rising to his knees in the face of direct fire, coolly and deliberately lobbed 3 grenades at the Germans, silencing 1 gun and killing its crew. With tenacious aggressiveness, he ran toward the other gun and knocked it out with grenade fire. He then returned to his platoon and led it in a fierce, inspired charge, forcing the enemy to fall back in confusion. 1st Lt. Will was mortally wounded in this last action, but his heroic leadership, indomitable courage, and unflinching devotion to duty live on as a perpetual inspiration to all those who witnessed his deeds.