"The President of the United States of America, in the name of
Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Second
Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Technical Sergeant] Stephen Raymond Gregg,
United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of
life above and beyond the call of duty on 27 August 1944, while serving
with Company L, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in
action in the vicinity of Montelimar, France. As his platoon advanced
upon the enemy positions; the leading scout was fired upon and Second
Lieutenant Gregg immediately put his machine guns into action to cover
the advance of the riflemen. The Germans, who were at close range, threw
hand grenades at the riflemen, killing some and wounding seven. Each
time a medical aid man attempted to reach the wounded, the Germans fired
at him. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Second Lieutenant
Gregg took one of the light .30-caliber machine guns, and firing from the
hip, started boldly up the hill with the medical aid man following him.
Although the enemy was throwing hand grenades at him, Second Lieutenant
Gregg remained and fired into the enemy positions while the medical aid
man removed the seven wounded men to safety. When Second Lieutenant
Gregg had expended all his ammunition, he was covered by four Germans
who ordered him to surrender. Since the attention of most of the Germans
had been diverted by watching this action, friendly riflemen were able
to maneuver into firing positions. One, seeing Second Lieutenant Gregg's
situation, opened fire on his captors. The four Germans hit the ground
and thereupon Second Lieutenant Gregg recovered a machine pistol from
one of the Germans and managed to escape to his other machinegun
positions. He manned a gun, firing at his captors, killed one of them
and wounded the other. This action so discouraged the Germans that the
platoon was able to continue its advance up the hill to achieve its
objective. The following morning, just prior to daybreak, the Germans
launched a strong attack, supported by tanks, in an attempt to drive
Company L from the hill. As these tanks moved along the valley and their
foot troops advanced up the hill, Second Lieutenant Gregg immediately
ordered his mortars into action. During the day by careful observation,
he was able to direct effective fire on the enemy, inflicting heavy
casualties. By late afternoon he had directed 600 rounds when his
communication to the mortars was knocked out. Without hesitation he
started checking his wires, although the area was under heavy enemy
small arms and artillery fire. When he was within 100 yards of his
mortar position, one of his men informed him that the section had been
captured and the Germans were using the mortars to fire on the company.
Second Lieutenant Gregg with this man and another nearby rifleman
started for the gun position where he could see five Germans firing his
mortars. He ordered the two men to cover him, crawled up, threw a hand
grenade into the position, and then charged it. The hand grenade killed
1, injured 2, Second Lieutenant Gregg took the other two prisoners, and
put his mortars back into action."
From Tech. Sgt. Gregg's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on April 17, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Melonie
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