"He was an acting squad leader when heavy machinegun fire from enemy
positions, well dug in on commanding ground and camouflaged by
haystacks, stopped his company's advance and pinned down 1 platoon where
it was exposed to almost certain annihilation. Ordered to rescue the
beleaguered platoon by neutralizing the German automatic fire, he led
his squad forward along a draw to the right of the trapped unit against 3
key positions which poured murderous fire into his helpless comrades.
When within range, his squad fired tracer bullets in an attempt to set
fire to the 3 haystacks which were strung out in a loose line directly
to the front, 75, 150, and 250 yards away. Realizing that this attack
was ineffective, Sgt. Harmon ordered his squad to hold their position
and voluntarily began a 1-man assault. Carrying white phosphorus
grenades and a sub-machine gun, he skillfully took advantage of what
little cover the terrain afforded and crept to within 25 yards of the
first position. He set the haystack afire with a grenade, and when 2 of
the enemy attempted to flee from the inferno, he killed them with his sub-machine gun. Crawling toward the second machinegun emplacement, he
attracted fire and was wounded; but he continued to advance and
destroyed the position with hand grenades, killing the occupants. He
then attacked the third machinegun, running to a small knoll, then
crawling over ground which offered no concealment or cover. About
halfway to his objective, he was again wounded. But he struggled ahead
until within 20 yards of the machinegun nest, where he raised himself to
his knees to throw a grenade. He was knocked down by direct enemy fire.
With a final, magnificent effort, he again arose, hurled the grenade
and fell dead, riddled by bullets. His missile fired the third position,
destroying it. Sgt. Harmon's extraordinary heroism, gallantry, and
self-sacrifice saved a platoon from being wiped out, and made it
possible for his company to advance against powerful enemy resistance."
From Sgt. Harmon's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on October 2, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Melonie
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