"He alone made it possible for his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared a wooded area of snipers,
and 1 platoon was advancing across an open clearing toward another wood
when it was met by heavy machinegun fire from 2 German positions dug in
at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked by enemy
riflemen. The platoon took cover behind a small ridge approximately 40
yards from the enemy position. There was no other available protection
and the entire platoon was pinned down by the German fire. It was about
noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to a
3-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground. Pvt.
Wiedorfer, realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until
the 2 enemy machinegun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone
across the slippery open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Running in a crouched position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped
and fell in the snow, but quickly rose and continued forward with the
enemy concentrating automatic and small-arms fire on him as he advanced.
Miraculously escaping injury, Pvt. Wiedorfer reached a point some 10
yards from the first machinegun emplacement and hurled a hand grenade
into it. With his rifle he killed the remaining Germans, and, without
hesitation, wheeled to the right and attacked the second emplacement. One of the enemy was wounded by his fire and the other 6 immediately
surrendered. This heroic action by 1 man enabled the platoon to advance
from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully to reach its
objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader and the
platoon sergeant were wounded, Pvt. Wiedorfer assumed command of the
platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission was
accomplished."
From Pvt. Wiedorfer's Medal of Honor citations, awarded on May 29, 1945.
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