HUFF, PAUL B. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, 509th Parachute Infantry
Battalion. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 8 February 1944.
Entered Service at:
Cleveland, Tenn. Birth: Cleveland, Tenn. G.O. No.: 41, 26 May
1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life
above and beyond the call of duty, in action on 8 February 1944, near Carano,
Italy. Cpl. Huff volunteered to lead a 6-man patrol with the mission of
determining the location and strength of an enemy unit which was delivering
fire on the exposed right flank of his company. The terrain over which
he had to travel consisted of exposed, rolling ground, affording the enemy
excellent visibility. As the patrol advanced, its members were subjected
to small arms and machinegun fire and a concentration of mortar fire, shells
bursting within 5 to 10 yards of them and bullets striking the ground at
their feet. Moving ahead of his patrol, Cpl. Huff drew fire from 3 enemy
machineguns and a 20mm. weapon. Realizing the danger confronting his patrol,
he advanced alone under deadly fire through a minefield and arrived at
a point within 75 yards of the nearest machinegun position. Under direct
fire from the rear machinegun, he crawled the remaining 75 yards to the
closest emplacement, killed the crew with his submachine gun and destroyed
the gun. During this act he fired from a kneeling position which drew fire
from other positions, enabling him to estimate correctly the strength and
location of the enemy. Still under concentrated fire, he returned to his
patrol and led his men to safety. As a result of the information he gained,
a patrol in strength sent out that afternoon, 1 group under the leadership
of Cpl. Huff, succeeded in routing an enemy company of 125 men, killing
27 Germans and capturing 21 others, with a loss of only 3 patrol members.
Cpl. Huff's intrepid leadership and daring combat skill reflect the finest
traditions of the American infantryman.
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