FISHER, ALMOND E. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 157th
Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Grammont, France,
12-13 September 1944. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Birth: Hume, N.Y.
G.O. No: 32, 23 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on the night
of 1213 September 1944, near Grammont, France. In the darkness of early
morning, 2d Lt. Fisher was leading a platoon of Company E, 157th Infantry,
in single column to the attack of a strongly defended hill position. At
2:30 A.M., the forward elements were brought under enemy machinegun fire
from a distance of not more than 20 yards. Working his way alone to within
20 feet of the gun emplacement, he opened fire with his carbine and killed
the entire guncrew. A few minutes after the advance was resumed, heavy
machinegun fire was encountered from the left flank. Again crawling forward
alone under withering fire, he blasted the gun and crew from their positions
with hand grenades. After a halt to replenish ammunition, the advance was
again resumed and continued for 1 hour before being stopped by intense
machinegun and rifle fire. Through the courageous and skillful leadership
of 2d Lt. Fisher, the pocket of determined enemy resistance was rapidly
obliterated. Spotting an emplaced machine pistol a short time later, with
1 of his men he moved forward and destroyed the position. As the advance
continued the fire fight became more intense. When a bypassed German climbed
from his foxhole and attempted to tear an Ml rifle from the hands of 1
of his men, 2d Lt. Fisher whirled and killed the enemy with a burst from
his carbine. About 30 minutes later the platoon came under the heavy fire
of machineguns from across an open field. 2d Lt. Fisher, disregarding the
terrific fire, moved across the field with no cover or concealment to within
range, knocked the gun from the position and killed or wounded the crew.
Still under heavy fire he returned to his platoon and continued the advance.
Once again heavy fire was encountered from a machinegun directly in front.
Calling for hand grenades, he found only 2 remaining in the entire platoon.
Pulling the pins and carrying a grenade in each hand, he crawled toward
the gun emplacement, moving across areas devoid of cover and under intense
fire to within 15 yards when he threw the grenades, demolished the gun
and killed the guncrew. With ammunition low and daybreak near, he ordered
his men to dig in and hold the ground already won. Under constant fire
from the front and from both flanks, he moved among them directing the
preparations for the defense. Shortly after the ammunition supply was replenished,
the Germans launched a last determined effort against the depleted group.
Attacked by superior numbers from the front, right, and left flank, and
even from the rear, the platoon, in bitter hand-to-hand engagements drove
back the enemy at every point. Wounded in both feet by close-range machine
pistol fire early in the battle, 2d Lt. Fisher refused medical attention.
Unable to walk, he crawled from man to man encouraging them and checking
each position. Only after the fighting had subsided did 2d Lt. Fisher crawl
300 yards to the aid station from which he was evacuated. His extraordinary
heroism, magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of
pointblank enemy fire is an inspiration to his organization and reflects
the finest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.
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