"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty near Brest, France, on 29 August 1944. Shortly
after dusk an enemy counterattack of platoon strength was launched
against 1 platoon of Company G, 23d Infantry. Since the Company G
platoon was not dug in and had just begun to assume defensive positions
along a hedge, part of the line sagged momentarily under heavy fire from
small arms and 2 flak
guns, leaving a section of heavy machine guns holding a wide frontage
without rifle protection. The enemy drive moved so swiftly that German
riflemen were soon almost on top of 1 machine gun position. Sgt. McVeigh,
heedless of a tremendous amount of small arms and flak fire directed
toward him, stood up in full view of the enemy and directed the fire of
his squad on the attacking Germans until his position was almost
overrun. He then drew his trench knife, and single-handed charged
several of the enemy. In a savage hand-to-hand struggle, Sgt. McVeigh
killed 1 German with the knife, his only weapon, and was advancing on 3
more of the enemy when he was shot down and killed with small arms fire
at pointblank range. Sgt. McVeigh's heroic act allowed the 2 remaining
men in his squad to concentrate their machine gun fire on the attacking
enemy and then turn their weapons on the 3 Germans in the road, killing
all 3. Fire from this machine gun and the other gun of the section was
almost entirely responsible for stopping this enemy assault, and allowed
the rifle platoon to which it was attached time to reorganize, assume
positions on and hold the high ground gained during the day."
From Sgt. McVeigh's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on on April 6, 1945,
May you be at peace,
Brian
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