Forrest E. Everhart Sergeant, United States Army |
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| Born
at Bainbridge, Ohio, August 28, 1921, he earned the
in World War II while serving with Company H, 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry
Division, near Kerling, France, on November 12, 1944. The Medal was actaully
awarded on September 10, 1945.
He died on August 30, 1986 and was buried in
Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company H, 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kerling, France, 12 November 1944. Entered service at: Texas City, Texas. Birth: Bainbridge, Ohio. G.O. No.: 77, 10September 1945. Citation: He commanded a platoon that bore the brunt
of a desperate enemy counterattack near Korling, France, before dawn on
12 November 1944. When German tanks and self-propelled guns penetrated
his left flank and overwhelming infantry forces threatened to overrun the
one remaining machinegun in that section, he ran 400 yards through woods
churned by artillery and mortar concentrations to strengthen the defense.
With the 1 remaining gunner, he directed furious fire into the advancing
hordes until they swarmed close to the position. He left the gun, boldly
charged the attackers and, after a 15-minute exchange of hand grenades,
forced them to withdraw leaving 30 dead behind. He re-crossed the fire-swept
terrain to his then threatened right flank, exhorted his men and directed
murderous fire from the single machinegun at that position. There, in the
light of bursting mortar shells, he again closed with the enemy in a hand
grenade duel and, after a fierce 30-minute battle, forced the Germans to
withdraw leaving another 20 dead. The gallantry and intrepidity of T/Sgt.
Everhart in rallying his men and refusing to fall back in the face of terrible
odds were highly instrumental in repelling the fanatical enemy counterattack
directed at the American bridgehead across the Moselle River.
Photo courtesy of Raymond L. Collins Webmaster: Michael
Robert Patterson
Updated: 28 September 2000 Updated: 10 November 2001 Updated: 15 March 2003 Updated: 6 July 2003 Updated: 31 December 2005 Updated: 1 November 2008 |
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