|
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 2d Battalion,
8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division Place and date: Hurtgen Forest near
Schevenhutte, Germany, 20 November 1944. Entered service at: Sumter, S.C.
Birth: Sumter, SC G.O. No.: 77, September 1945. Citation: He was commanding
the 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, in an attack through the Hurtgen Forest
near Schevenhutte, Germany, on 20 November 1944. During the early phases
of the assault, the leading elements of his battalion were halted by a
minefield and immobilized by heavy hostile fire. Advancing alone into the
mined area, Col. Mabry established a safe route of passage. He then moved
ahead of the foremost scouts, personally leading the attack, until confronted
by a boobytrapped double concertina obstacle. With the assistance of the
scouts, he disconnected the explosives and cut a path through the wire.
Upon moving through the opening, he observed 3 enemy in foxholes whom he
captured at bayonet point. Driving steadily forward he paced the assault
against 3 log bunkers which housed mutually supported automatic weapons.
Racing up a slope ahead of his men, he found the initial bunker deserted,
then pushed on to the second where he was suddenly confronted by 9 onrushing
enemy. Using the butt of his rifle, he felled 1 adversary and bayoneted
a second, before his scouts came to his aid and assisted him in overcoming
the others in hand-to-hand combat. Accompanied by the riflemen, he charged
the third bunker under pointblank small arms fire and led the way into
the fortification from which he prodded 6 enemy at bayonet point. Following
the consolidation of this area, he led his battalion across 300 yards of
fire-swept terrain to seize elevated ground upon which he established a
defensive position which menaced the enemy on both flanks, and provided
his regiment a firm foothold on the approach to the Cologne Plain. Col.
Mabry's superlative courage, daring, and leadership in an operation of
major importance exemplify the finest characteristics of the military service.
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)
| | |