"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty on May 23, 1944, in the vicinity of Cisterna, Italy. 2d Lt. Dervishian (then Tech. Sgt.) and 4 members of his platoon
found themselves far ahead of their company after an aggressive advance
in the face of enemy artillery and sniper
fire. Approaching a railroad embankment, they observed a force of
German soldiers hiding in dugouts. 2d Lt. Dervishian, directing his men
to cover him, boldly moved forward and firing his carbine
forced 10 Germans to surrender. His men then advanced and captured 15
more Germans occupying adjacent dugouts. The prisoners were returned to
the rear to be picked up by advancing units. From the railroad
embankment, 2d Lt. Dervishian and his men then observed 9 Germans who
were fleeing across a ridge. He and his men opened fire and 3 of the
enemy were wounded. As his men were firing, 2d Lt. Dervishian,
unnoticed, fearlessly dashed forward alone and captured all of the
fleeing enemy before his companions joined him on the ridge. At this
point 4 other men joined 2d Lt. Dervishian's group. An attempt was made
to send the 4 newly arrived men along the left flank of a large, dense vineyard
that lay ahead, but murderous machine gun fire forced them back.
Deploying his men, 2d Lt. Dervishian moved to the front of his group and
led the advance into the vineyard. He and his men suddenly became
pinned down by a machine gun firing at them at a distance of 15 yards.
Feigning death while the hostile weapon blazed away at him, 2d Lt.
Dervishian assaulted the position during a halt in the firing, using a hand grenade
and carbine fire, and forced the 4 German crew members to surrender. The
4 men on the left flank were now ordered to enter the vineyard but
encountered machine gun fire which killed 1 soldier and wounded another.
At this moment the enemy intensified the fight by throwing potato-masher grenades
at the valiant band of American soldiers within the vineyard. 2d Lt.
Dervishian ordered his men to withdraw; but instead of following, jumped
into the machine gun position he had just captured and opened fire with
the enemy weapon in the direction of the second hostile machine gun nest.
Observing movement in a dugout 2 or 3 yards to the rear, 2d Lt.
Dervishian seized a machine pistol.
Simultaneously blazing away at the entrance to the dugout to prevent
its occupants from firing and firing his machine gun at the other German
nest, he forced 5 Germans in each position to surrender. Determined to
rid the area of all Germans, 2d Lt. Dervishian continued his advance
alone. Noticing another machine gun position beside a house, he picked up
an abandoned machine pistol and forced 6 more Germans to surrender by
spraying their position with fire. Unable to locate additional targets
in the vicinity, 2d Lt. Dervishian conducted these prisoners to the
rear. The prodigious courage and combat skill exhibited by 2d Lt.
Dervishian are exemplary of the finest traditions of the U.S. Armed
Forces."
Thank you for your service and may you be at peace,
Brian
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