"He was leader of a machine gun squad defending an approach to the village
of Birgel, Germany, on 14 December 1944, when an enemy tank, supported
by 20 infantrymen, counterattacked. He held his fire until the Germans
were within 100 yards and then raked the foot soldiers beside the tank
killing several of them. The enemy armor continued to press forward and,
at the pointblank range of 30 yards, fired a high-velocity shell into
the American emplacement, wounding the entire squad. Sgt. Neppel, blown
10 yards from his gun, had 1 leg severed below the knee and suffered
other wounds. Despite his injuries and the danger from the onrushing
tank and infantry, he dragged himself back to his position on his
elbows, remounted his gun and killed the remaining enemy riflemen. Stripped of its infantry protection, the tank was forced to withdraw. By
his superb courage and indomitable fighting spirit, Sgt. Neppel
inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke a determined
counterattack."
From Sgt. Neppel's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on August 23, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Mel
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