"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Mills, undergoing his baptism of fire,
preceded his platoon down a draw to reach a position from which an
attack could be launched against a heavily fortified strong point. After
advancing about 300 yards, Pvt. Mills was fired on by a machine gun only 5
yards distant. He killed the gunner with 1 shot and forced the
surrender of the assistant gunner. Continuing his advance, he saw a
German soldier in a camouflaged position behind a large bush pulling the
pin of a potato-masher grenade. Covering the German with his rifle,
Pvt. Mills forced him to drop the grenade and captured him. When another
enemy soldier attempted to throw a hand grenade into the draw, Pvt.
Mills killed him with 1 shot. Brought under fire by a machine gun, 2
machine pistols, and 3 rifles at a range of only 50 feet, he charged
headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire shooting his M 1 from
the hip. The enemy was completely demoralized by Pvt. Mills' daring
charge, and when he reached a point within 10 feet of their position,
all 6 surrendered. As he neared the end of the draw, Pvt. Mills was
brought under fire by a machine gunner 20 yards distant. Despite the fact
that he had absolutely no cover, Pvt. Mills killed the gunner with 1
shot. Two enemy soldiers near the machine gunner fired wildly at Pvt.
Mills and then fled. Pvt. Mills fired twice, killing 1 of the enemy. Continuing on to the position, he captured a fourth soldier. When it
became apparent that an assault on the strong point would in all
probability cause heavy casualties on the platoon, Pvt. Mills
volunteered to cover the advance down a shallow ditch to a point within
50 yards of the objective. Standing on the bank in full view of the
enemy less than 100 yards away, he shouted and fired his rifle directly
into the position. His ruse worked exactly as planned. The enemy
centered his fire on Pvt. Mills. Tracers passed within inches of his
body, rifle and machine pistol bullets ricocheted off the rocks at his
feet. Yet he stood there firing until his rifle was empty. Intent on
covering the movement of his platoon, Pvt. Mills jumped into the draw,
reloaded his weapon, climbed out again, and continued to lay down a base
of fire. Repeating this action 4 times, he enabled his platoon to reach
the designated spot undiscovered, from which position it assaulted and
overwhelmed the enemy, capturing 22 Germans and taking the objective
without casualties."
From Pvt. Mills' Medal of Honor citation, awarded in 1944.
A true American badass!
Brian
Memorial located at Veterans Memorial Park in Lakeland, FL.
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