Medal of Honor: William A. Soderman – World War II – December 17, 1944

Name: William A. Soderman
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company K, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Rocherath, Belgium – 17 December 1944
Entered Service At: West Haven, Connecticut
Born: West Haven, Connecticut
Departed: Survived
Accredited To: Connecticut

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Summary of Action

On December 17, 1944, near Rocherath, Belgium, during the opening phase of the German Ardennes counteroffensive, Private First Class William A. Soderman was defending a key road junction armed only with a bazooka. Following a heavy artillery barrage that wounded his assistant and forced his withdrawal, Soderman remained alone at his position as darkness fell.

Hearing enemy tanks approaching, Soderman calmly waited until five Mark V tanks closed to point-blank range. Standing fully exposed, he fired his bazooka into the lead tank, setting it ablaze and forcing its crew to abandon the vehicle as the remaining tanks pushed forward. Unable to reload in time, he held his position throughout the night under intense artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire.

Shortly after dawn, five more enemy tanks advanced, using a ditch for cover. Running to intercept them, Soderman reached an exposed firing position and deliberately stepped onto the road in full view of enemy gunners. He disabled the lead tank with a single rocket, forcing the remaining tanks to withdraw when they were unable to bypass the wreck.

While returning to his position, Soderman encountered an enemy infantry platoon and, braving heavy fire, fired his bazooka at close range, killing at least three enemy soldiers and wounding several others. As Company K was ordered to withdraw due to overwhelming pressure, Soderman reached the assembly area—only to hear tanks approaching once more.

Knowing that elements of his company had not yet disengaged and were vulnerable to armored attack, Soderman left his comparatively safe position and rushed forward alone. He disabled the lead tank with his final rocket, but before reaching cover, he was struck by machine-gun fire that tore into his right shoulder. Unarmed and seriously wounded, he dragged himself through a ditch back to American lines and was evacuated.

Through repeated acts of courage against overwhelming odds, Soderman played a decisive role in delaying enemy armor and defending Rocherath during one of the most critical moments of the Ardennes campaign.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Armed with a bazooka, he defended a key road junction near Rocherath, Belgium, on 17 December 1944, during the German Ardennes counteroffensive. After a heavy artillery barrage had wounded and forced the withdrawal of his assistant, he heard enemy tanks approaching the position where he calmly waited in the gathering darkness of early evening until the 5 Mark V tanks which made up the hostile force were within pointblank range. He then stood up, completely disregarding the firepower that could be brought to bear upon him, and launched a rocket into the lead tank, setting it afire and forcing its crew to abandon it as the other tanks pressed on before Pfc. Soderman could reload. The daring bazookaman remained at his post all night under severe artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire, awaiting the next onslaught, which was made shortly after dawn by 5 more tanks. Running along a ditch to meet them, he reached an advantageous point and there leaped to the road in full view of the tank gunners, deliberately aimed his weapon and disabled the lead tank. The other vehicles, thwarted by a deep ditch in their attempt to go around the crippled machine, withdrew. While returning to his post Pfc. Soderman, braving heavy fire to attack an enemy infantry platoon from close range, killed at least 3 Germans and wounded several others with a round from his bazooka. By this time, enemy pressure had made Company K’s position untenable. Orders were issued for withdrawal to an assembly area, where Pfc. Soderman was located when he once more heard enemy tanks approaching. Knowing that elements of the company had not completed their disengaging maneuver and were consequently extremely vulnerable to an armored attack, he hurried from his comparatively safe position to meet the tanks. Once more he disabled the lead tank with a single rocket, his last; but before he could reach cover, machinegun bullets from the tank ripped into his right shoulder. Unarmed and seriously wounded he dragged himself along a ditch to the American lines and was evacuated. Through his unfaltering courage against overwhelming odds, Pfc. Soderman contributed in great measure to the defense of Rocherath, exhibiting to a superlative degree the intrepidity and heroism with which American soldiers met and smashed the savage power of the last great German offensive.