"He was a heavy machine gunner in a section attached to Company I in the
vicinity of Krinkelter Wald, Belgium, 17 December 1944, when that
company was attacked by a numerically superior force of German infantry
and tanks. The first 6 waves of hostile infantrymen were repulsed with
heavy casualties, but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all
but 3 of his section, leaving Pvt. Cowan to man his gun, supported by
only 15 to 20 riflemen of Company I. He maintained his position, holding
off the Germans until the rest of the shattered force had set up a new
line along a firebreak. Then, unaided, he moved his machine gun and
ammunition to the second position. At the approach of a Royal Tiger tank, he held his fire until about 80 enemy infantrymen supporting the
tank appeared at a distance of about 150 yards. His first burst killed
or wounded about half of these infantrymen. His position was rocked by
an 88mm shell when the tank opened fire, but he continued to man his
gun, pouring deadly fire into the Germans when they again advanced. He
was barely missed by another shell. Fire from three machine guns and
innumerable small arms struck all about him; an enemy rocket shook him
badly, but did not drive him from his gun. Infiltration by the enemy had
by this time made the position untenable, and the order was given to
withdraw. Pvt. Cowan was the last man to leave, voluntarily covering the
withdrawal of his remaining comrades. His heroic actions were entirely
responsible for allowing the remaining men to retire successfully from
the scene of their last-ditch stand."
From Pfc. Cowan's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on June 23, 1945.
Thank you for your service and may you be at peace,
Brian
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