|
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company L, 357th
Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Thionville, France,
12 November 1944. Entered service at: Howard, Pa. Birth: Marsh Creek, Pa.
G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry
above and beyond the call of duty in combat on 12 November 1944, near Thionville,
France. During an attack on strong hostile forces entrenched on a hill
he fearlessly ran up the steep approach toward his objective and set up
his machinegun 20 yards from the enemy. Realizing it would be necessary
to attract full attention of the dug-in Germans while his company crossed
an open area and flanked the enemy, he picked up his gun, charged through
withering machinegun and rifle fire to the very edge of the emplacement,
and there killed 12 German soldiers with devastating close-range fire.
He took up a position behind a log and engaged the hostile infantry from
the flank in an heroic attempt to distract their attention while his comrades
attained their objective at the crest of the hill. He was killed by the
very heavy concentration of return fire; but his fearless assault enabled
his company to sweep the hill with minimum of casualties, killing or capturing
every enemy soldier on it. Pfc. Sayers' indomitable fighting spirit, aggressiveness,
and supreme devotion to duty live on as an example of the highest traditions
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)
| | |