"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty in the vicinity of Monte Frassino, Italy. The 3d
Platoon, in attempting to seize a strongly fortified hill position
protected by 3 parallel high terraced stone walls, was twice thrown back
by the withering crossfire. 2d Lt. Wigle, acting company executive,
observing that the platoon was without an officer, volunteered to
command it on the next attack. Leading his men up the bare, rocky slopes
through intense and concentrated fire, he succeeded in reaching the
first of the stone walls. Having himself boosted to the top and perching
there in full view of the enemy, he drew and returned their fire while
his men helped each other up and over. Following the same method, he
successfully negotiated the second. Upon reaching the top of the third
wall, he faced 3 houses which were the key point of the enemy defense.
Ordering his men to cover him, he made a dash through a hail of machine-pistol fire to reach the nearest house. Firing his carbine
as he entered, he drove the enemy before him out of the back door and
into the second house. Following closely on the heels of the foe, he
drove them from this house into the third where they took refuge in the
cellar. When his men rejoined him, they found him mortally wounded on
the cellar stairs which he had started to descend to force the surrender
of the enemy. His heroic action resulted in the capture of 36 German
soldiers and the seizure of the strong point."
From 2d Lt. Wigle's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on February 7, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Melonie
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