4-6-18 Garand Picture of the Day - 63rd Inf Div
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Casualties
Total battle casualties: 4,502
Killed in action: 86
Wounded in action: 3,326
Missing in action: 98
Prisoner of war: 219
Awards
•7 Presidential Unit Citations
•1 French Croix de Guerre with Palm – 254th Infantry Regiment
•16 Meritorious Unit Commendations
•2 Medals of Honor (First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Jr., and Staff Sergeant John R. Crews
•9 Distinguished Service Crosses
•1 Distinguished Service Medal
•455 Silver Stars
•3 Legions of Merit
•29 Soldier's Medals
•5,313 Bronze Stars
•68 Air Medals
•4,999 Purple Heart Medal
•1 British Military Cross
•2 British Military Medal
•2 French Legion of Honor
•15 French Croix de Guerre individual awards
First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Jr
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He was a field artillery forward observer attached to Company A, 253d Infantry, near Untergriesheim, Germany, on 6 April 1945. Eight hours of desperate fighting over open terrain swept by German machinegun, mortar, and small-arms fire had decimated Company A, robbing it of its commanding officer and most of its key enlisted personnel when 1st Lt. Robinson rallied the 23 remaining uninjured riflemen and a few walking wounded, and, while carrying his heavy radio for communication with American batteries, led them through intense fire in a charge against the objective. Ten German infantrymen in foxholes threatened to stop the assault, but the gallant leader killed them all at point-blank range with rifle and pistol fire and then pressed on with his men to sweep the area of all resistance. Soon afterward he was ordered to seize the defended town of Kressbach. He went to each of the 19 exhausted survivors with cheering words, instilling in them courage and fortitude, before leading the little band forward once more. In the advance he was seriously wounded in the throat by a shell fragment, but, despite great pain and loss of blood, he refused medical attention and continued the attack, directing supporting artillery fire even though he was mortally wounded. Only after the town had been taken and he could no longer speak did he leave the command he had inspired in victory and walk nearly 2 miles to an aid station where he died from his wound. By his intrepid leadership 1st Lt. Robinson was directly responsible for Company A's accomplishing its mission against tremendous odds.
Staff Sergeant John R. Crews
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The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant John R. Crews, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 April 1945 near Lobenbacherhof, Germany, while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division. As his company was advancing toward the village under heavy fire, an enemy machinegun and automatic rifle with rifle support opened upon it from a hill on the right flank. Seeing that his platoon leader had been wounded by their fire, Staff Sergeant Crews, acting on his own initiative, rushed the strongpoint with two men of his platoon. Despite the fact that one of these men was killed and the other was badly wounded, he continued his advance up the hill in the face of terrific enemy fire. Storming the well-dug-in position single-handedly, he killed two of the crew of the machinegun at pointblank range with his M-1 rifle and wrested the gun from the hands of the German whom he had already wounded. He then with his rifle charged the strongly emplaced automatic rifle. Although badly wounded in the thigh by crossfire from the remaining enemy, he kept on and silenced the entire position with his accurate and deadly rifle fire. His actions so unnerved the remaining enemy soldiers that seven of them surrendered and the others fled. His heroism caused the enemy to concentrate on him and permitted the company to move forward into the village.
Cool to see the Blood and Fire
I recently inherited my Grandparent's home, and my Grandfather served in Company B, 254th Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. I recently put a shadow box together with some of his medals the US Army had sent me. My uncle had another shadow box made after he passed away in 1995 with his dog tags, pictures, and various ribbons.
Gramps' records were destroyed in the 1973 National Archives fire in St. Louis, so we don't have a lot of the history other than what I dug up a few years ago. The Army sent me the few medals that I have in my shadow box when I requested them several years ago. I was able to get copies of some of his records from the 63rd Division, and was able to get his Bronze Star from those records.
I also recently found his duffel bag and a couple of his shirts at the home place, and I've found them a spot in my man cave.
Thanks for posting a picture from the Blood and Fire division!
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