Hugh J. Vickery, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company H, 276th Infantry Regiment,
70th Infantry Division
Date of Action: January 12, 1945, Citation: The President of the United States
takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Hugh J. Vickery
(20232201), Sergeant [then Private First Class], U.S. Army, for gallantry in
action while serving with Company H, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry
Division, on 12 January 1945, near Rothbach, France. Sergeant Vickery, having
been wounded and awaiting evacuation, did, when the enemy launched a strong
counterattack, in spite of his wounds and with utter disregard for his own
safety, return to his machine gun section, assume command and calmly reorganized
it. His action inspired such confidence in the men of the section that they
successfully repulsed the counterattack. Sergeant Vickery was again wounded in
this action but refused to leave his post until the enemy had been driven off.
Headquarters, 70th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 93 (August 11, 1945)
Home of Record: Buffalo, New York.
PFC Frank R. Regalado, 39017388, Silver
Star, I/276th Infantry, France, Received the Medal for action on
February 26, 1945 in the town of Oteing. Award of the Silver Star: General Order
Number 22 on June 16, 1945. Under the provisions of Army Regulation 600-45, 22
September 1943, as amended, the award of the Silver Star Medal to the following
individual: "On the night of 26 February 1945, Company "I" went attack on the
town of Odegen (sp Oetingen? - webmaster), France. Six men acting as Company
scouts including Private First Class Regalado had advanced to the outskirts of
Odegen when they found they were alone. Pfc. Regalado, took it for granted that
the Company had met a small pocket of resistence and would soon be up with them.
Viewing the grave situation, Pfc. Regalado took upon his shoulders the great
task of taking command of the small group and continue the attack on Odegen (sp)
knowing the Company was not behind them. These six men had completely cleaned
out Odegen of all resistence by the time the Company had caught up with them and
occupied the town. After talking to this Company Commander, Pfc. Regalado found
that a certain man had lost the main portion of the Company including the
Company Commander, which was a sufficient explanation why the Company had not
attacked as planned. Private First Class Regalado also has five major battle
stars and the Combat Infantry Badge." By the Order of Colonel Morgan: D.B.
Wilson, 2d Lt., Infantry Asst Adjutant.
Major Ted Mataxis, 2nd Bn, 276th, Silver
Star and Bronze Star, GO 49 dated, 20 Jun 45. Citation for Silver Star
reads: ...for gallantry in action on 10 January 1945, near Rothbach, France.
When two companies had lost their commanding officers as a result of enemy
action, Lieutenant Colonel (then major) Mataxis, then Battalion Executive
Officer, went forward to coordinate these units in a night attack. He maneuvered
one company into action, and aided the other by bringing effective fire upon
enemy machine guns which had halted the rifle platoons. Moving forward, he
reorganized the front line troops, in complete darkness and under heavy
artillery fire. While thus engaged, he captured two prisoners, and killed three
enemy soldiers at an automatic weapons position. His aggressive leadership at a
critical juncture was an inspiration to the officers and men of the battalion,
and a major factor in accomplishment of his unit's mission. Entered military
service from Seattle, Washington.
DEAN L MAYER, (Bronze Star) 35
602 952, Sergeant (then Private First Class) Company A, on 20 February 1945.
During the attack to gain a foothold in the important city of Forbach, France,
heavy concentration of enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire temporarily
halted the advance of Company A. Realizing the seriousness of the situation,
Sergeant Mayer assumed the leadership of his squad, after his squad leader had
been wounded, and courageously led his men through a hole that had been blasted
in a stone wall. This action enabled them to pin down the hostile troops and
permitted his platoon to advance. When the platoon leader fell wounded,
Sergeant Mayer took command and led his men to brilliant victory. Entered
military service from Hartville, Ohio. (General Order 99 - dated August 14,
1945, 70th Infantry Division)
William V Hines, Pfc, (1st Scout) and James C
Ray, S/Sgt, (2nd Scout), Bronze Star C/276, for heroic
achievement in action on 13 March 1945. When their battalion advanced at night,
Private First Class Hines and S/Sgt Ray were lead scouts. The two men crossed a
slag pile about 60 feet high, in an area known to be heavily mined, and guided
their battalion past other Schu and "S" mine fields. Their courage and skillful
scouting of 5,000 yards in the darkness enabled the battalion to move into the
town of Furstenhausen, Germany, without the enemy's knowledge. The next day, the
scouts advanced to within 15 yards of hostile bunkers and assaulted the strong
points with hand grenades and an automatic rifle, causing many casualties. Their
courageous action and devotion to duty greatly contributed to the success of
their battalion and was an inspiration to the advancing troops. Source: GO 41 Hq.
70th Inf Div 24 May 1945. For a Stars and Stripes write-up about this crossing,
Click here.
Mario A Sbrocco, Bronze Star,
32 734 769, Sergeant, Infantry, Company A, 276th Infantry. Entered
military service from Geneva, New York and John J Steiner, 37 096 812,
Bronze Star, Technical Sergeant, Infantry, Company A,
276th Infantry. Entered military service from Amiden, North Dakota. For heroic
achievement in action on 22 February 1945, near Forbach, France. With elements
of two companies held down by automatic fire from an enemy pillbox, these
soldiers voluntarily made their way forward under heavy mortar, artillery,
sniper, and automatic weapons fire to knock out the fortified position with hand
grenades and accurate rifle fire. Their courageous action permitted the elements
to advance and gain their objective. (Source: GO#19, 70th Infantry Division,
dated 17 March 1945.)
John A. Krum,11 070 741, Sergeant, Company C, on
12 January 1945, Bronze Star. During the attack on
Obermunthal, France, Company C, Was held up by intense enemy machine gun and
small arms fire from strong positions. Realizing the need for placing mortar
fire on the hostile strong points, Sergeant Krum, despite warning of danger from
the company commander, crawled forward under the observed enemy fire to gain a
vantage point. Although exposed for one half an hour to enemy fire he directed
the fire of his mortars with such accuracy that the enemy was forced to
withdraw. By his gallant action the company was enabled to resume its advance
and gain its objective. Entered military service from Shaker Heights,
Ohio.(Source: General Order No. 99, 70th Infantry Division)
John A Krum, C/276, Oak Leaf Cluster
to above award, 11 070 741, Sergeant, Company C, near Forbach,
France, on 27 February 1945. When enemy mortar bursts had wounded four
comrades, Sergeant Krum and a comrade left a covered position and rushed 100
yards down a street covered by intensive enemy artillery, mortar, and small arms
fire. Crawling under the hostile fire, they reached and aided the casualties
and then proceeded to half-carry and half-drag them one by one to a covered
position of safety. The heroism and courage displayed by Sergeant Krum under
intensive enemy fire saved the lives of four comrades and was an inspiration to
his squad. Entered military service from Shaker Heights, Ohio. (Source, General
Order No. 99, 70th Infantry Division)
Secondary Sources
Claude J. Hafner, E/276,
Distinguished Service Cross for action on 6 February 1945 near
Oetingen, France when he helped capture 13 prisoners, bayoneted one enemy
soldier, destroyed several gun positions, and mopped up by-passed enemy
positions.
1st Lt Harold J. Brunstine, E/276,
Silver Star, May have been in command of H Company when
killed in action (Posthumous
award)
PFC Randall Wright, E/276, Silver
Star under heavy enemy fire, he approached an enemy MG
emplacement and with well placed rifle fire, silenced the gun.
Pfc. Patrick Molinari, A/276,
Bronze Star, In the town of Forbach, France, on or about
February 22-23, 1945, Company A, Third Platoon under the leadership of T/Sgt.
Steiner, was attempting to secure the town. We came across a large house that
we thought was empty. Before entering the house a team of bazooka men,
including myself, blew open the door. After entering someone from our team
threw a grenade into the cellar. To our surprise, six or seven German soldiers
came up the steps with hands held high. One or two of them were wounded by
shrapnel and were taken away. When we descended the steps to the cellar to
secure the house we found six or seven dishes containing hot red beans ready
to be eaten. The Germans did not have a chance to eat their meal, so we
finished it for them. Before leaving the house, we noticed that there were two
machine guns stationed at the front and rear windows. Lucky for us that no one
was on guard-duty or the ending of this story might have been different.
For this action, at a later date, Sgt. Matla of the third Platoon,
Company A recommended me for a Bronze Star which I received after my
discharged from the service. Unfortunately, these points were not credited to
my record before my discharge.
Standing Row, L to R:
Sgt. Ignace Matla, unknown, Pfc. Chestcavage (sp?); kneeling, L to R: Pfc.
Baily and Pfc. Patrick Molinari. Photo taken after the war somewhere in
Germany in August 1945. (Photo and above information courtesy of Patrick
Molinari and his son Ken)
Capt. William F. Riley, E/276,
Bronze Star He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in ground
combat in the vicinity of Gaubivingen, France, 6 to 8 Feb. 1945. Attacking at
night over open terrain against an enemy network of trenches studded with
barbed wire and mines, Capt. Riley maintained excellent control to
successfully reach his objective. An adjacent company considerably disrupted
by similar opposition was completely disorganized when the enemy
counter-attacked the following night. Capt. Riley organized what elements of
the beleaguered company he could contact and attached them to Company E.
Ordered to withdraw under cover of darkness, Capt. Riley manitained control
and contact so well that the company sustained only minimum casualties. Capt.
Riley also commanded a similar withdrawal of an adjacent platoon that had lost
it's leader. By his coolness and courage, he led his company to a successful
battalion attack.
Richard Schoeneman, HQ/276, Bronze
Star Leading his patrol 30 miles in front of regimental lines,
his patrols linked up with elements of the Third Division at Duisberg,
Germany. While leading these patrols, his I & R Platoon took four prisoners.
Grant Walter, F/276, Bronze Star,
exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire while checking Platoon positions near
Styring-Wendel. Although wounded he refused to be evacuated until he had
completed his job.
Posthumous Award
George Spudnik, H/276, Bronze Star
returned to a previously evacuated mortar position with weapons
and ammunition near Offweiler, inspiring his buddies to do the same.
Posthumous Award
