"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of
duty on 26 May 1944. Attacking the strongly held German Anzio-Nettuno defense line near Cisterna, Italy, 1st Lt. Newman, in the lead of his
platoon, was suddenly fired upon by 2 enemy machine guns located on the
crest of a hill about 100 yards to his front. The 4 scouts with him
immediately hit the ground, but 1st Lt. Newman remained standing in
order to see the enemy positions and his platoon then about 100 yards
behind. Locating the enemy nests, 1st Lt. Newman called back to his
platoon and ordered 1 squad to advance to him and the other to flank the
enemy to the right. Then, still standing upright in the face of the
enemy machine gun fire, 1st Lt. Newman opened up with his Tommy Gun on the
enemy nests. From this range, his fire was not effective in covering
the advance of his squads, and 1 squad was pinned down by the enemy
fire. Seeing that his squad was unable to advance, 1st Lt. Newman, in
full view of the enemy gunners and in the face of their continuous fire,
advanced alone on the enemy nests. He returned their fire with his Tommy Gun and succeeded in wounding a German in each of the nests. The
remaining 2 Germans fled from the position into a nearby house. Three
more enemy soldiers then came out of the house and ran toward a third
machine gun. 1st Lt. Newman, still relentlessly advancing toward them,
killed 1 before he reached the gun, the second before he could fire it. The third fled for his life back into the house. Covering his assault by
firing into the doors and windows of the house, 1st Lt. Newman, boldly
attacking by himself, called for the occupants to surrender to him. Gaining the house, he kicked in the door and went inside. Although armed
with rifles and machine pistols, the 11 Germans there, apparently
intimidated, surrendered to the lieutenant without further resistance,
1st Lt. Newman, single-handed, had silenced 3 enemy machine guns, wounded
2 Germans, killed 2 more, and took 11 prisoners. This demonstration of
sheer courage, bravery, and willingness to close with the enemy even in
the face of such heavy odds, instilled into these green troops the
confidence of veterans and reflects the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces."
From 1Lt. Newman's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on January 15, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian
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