14-105 Garand Picture of the Day - 32D Infantry Division - Villa Verde Trail

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Soldiers from Company L, 128TH Infantry, entrenched atop Hill 504 along the Villa Verde Trail on 1 April 1945.

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PFC William R. Shockley, from Selma, CA, and assigned to Company L, 128TH Infantry, was posthumously bestowed the Medal of Honor for his incredible selflessness during an intense Japanese counterattack along the Ville Verde Trail on 31 March 1945. He voluntarily remained at his post to fight off the enemy while allowing the remainder of his squad to safely withdraw to a better position, telling them he would “remain to the end”. He continued to fire until he was struck down during a subsequent enemy charge. He was a veteran of the Saidor, Aitape, and Leyte battles and had been awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge at Saidor.

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“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class William Ralph Shockley, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 31 March 1945, while serving with Company L, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, in action at Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Private First Class Shockley was in position with his unit on a hill when the enemy, after a concentration of artillery fire, launched a counterattack. He maintained his position under intense enemy fire and urged his comrades to withdraw, saying that he would "remain to the end" to provide cover. Although he had to clear two stoppages which impeded the reloading of his weapon, he halted one enemy charge. Hostile troops then began moving in on his left flank, and he quickly shifted his gun to fire on them. Knowing that the only route of escape was being cut off by the enemy, he ordered the remainder of his squad to withdraw to safety and deliberately remained at his post. He continued to fire until he was killed during the ensuing enemy charge. Later, four Japanese were found dead in front of his position. Private First Class Shockley, facing certain death, sacrificed himself to save his fellow soldiers, but the heroism and gallantry displayed by him enabled his squad to reorganize and continue its attack.”

Death: 31 March 1945.

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127th Infantry Regiment were on the Villa Verde Trail when they encountered Japanese forces, and were pinned down in their positions on Hill 507