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Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 306th Infantry,
77th Division. Place and date: Near St. Hubert's Pavillion, Boureuilles,
France, 28 September 1918. Entered service at: Falls Creek, Pa. Birth:
Arroya, Pa. G.O. No.: 15, W.D., 1923. Citation: He led his men in an attack
on St. Hubert's Pavillion through terrific enemy machinegun, rifle, and
artillery fire and drove the enemy from a strongly held entrenched position
after hand-to-hand fighting. His bravery and contempt for danger inspired
his men, enabling them to hold fast in the face of 3 determined enemy counterattacks.
His company's position being exposed to enemy fire from both flanks, he
made 3 efforts to locate an enemy machinegun which had caused heavy casualties.
On his third reconnaissance he discovered the gun position and personally
silenced the gun, killing or wounding the crew. The third counterattack
made by the enemy was initiated by the appearance of a small detachment
in advance of the enemy attacking wave. When almost within reach of the
American front line the enemy appeared behind them, attacking vigorously
with pistols, rifles, and handgrenades, causing heavy casualties in the
American platoon. 1st Lt. Schaffner mounted the parapet of the trench and
used his pistol and grenades killing a number of enemy soldiers, finally
reaching the enemy officer leading the attacking forces, a captain, shooting
and mortally wounding the latter with his pistol, and dragging the captured
officer back to the company's trench, securing from him valuable information
as to the enemy's strength and position. The information enabled 1st Lt.
Schaffner to maintain for S hours the advanced position of his company
despite the fact that it was surrounded on 3 sides by strong enemy forces.
The undaunted bravery, gallant soldierly conduct, and leadership displayed
by 1st Lt. Schaffner undoubtedly saved the survivors of the company from
death or capture.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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