Henry F. Warner
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Antitank Company, 2d
Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Dom Butgenbach, Belgium, 20-21 December
1944.
Entered service at: Troy, N.C. Born: 23 August 1923,
Troy, N.C. G.O. No.: 48, 23 June 1945. Citation: Serving as 57-mm.
antitank gunner with the 2d Battalion, he was a major factor in
stopping enemy tanks during heavy attacks against the battalion
position near Dom Butgenbach, Belgium, on 20-21 December 1944. In the
first attack, launched in the early morning of the 20th, enemy tanks
succeeded in penetrating parts of the line. Cpl. Warner, disregarding
the concentrated cannon and machinegun fire from 2 tanks bearing down
on him, and ignoring the imminent danger of being overrun by the
infantry moving under tank cover, destroyed the first tank and scored
a direct and deadly hit upon the second. A third tank approached to
within 5 yards of his position while he was attempting to clear a
jammed breach lock. Jumping from his gun pit, he engaged in a pistol
duel with the tank commander standing in the turret, killing him and
forcing the tank to withdraw. Following a day and night during which
our forces were subjected to constant shelling, mortar barrages, and
numerous unsuccessful infantry attacks, the enemy struck in great
force on the early morning of the 21st. Seeing a Mark IV tank looming
out of the mist and heading toward his position, Cpl. Warner scored a
direct hit. Disregarding his injuries, he endeavored to finish the
loading and again fire at the tank whose motor was now aflame, when a
second machinegun burst killed him. Cpl. Warner's gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty
contributed materially to the successful defense against the enemy
attacks.
Congressional Medal of Honor Citations, U.S. Army
Center of Military History
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm |