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Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 319th Infantry,
80th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Dahl, Luxembourg, 8 January
1945. Entered service at: Nescopek, Pa. Birth: Berwick, Pa. G.O. No.: 49,
28 June 1945. Citation: He commanded a 9-man squad with the mission of
holding a critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy
attacked under cover of withering artillery, mortar, and rocket fire, he
withdrew his squad into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the
last man. The enemy attacked again and again and were repulsed with heavy
losses. Supported by direct tank fire, they finally gained entrance, but
the intrepid sergeant refused to surrender although 5 of his men were wounded
and 1 was killed. He boldly flung a can of flaming oil at the first wave
of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing
with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand encounters. He hurled handgrenade
for handgrenade, bayoneted 2 fanatical Germans who rushed a doorway he
was defending and fought on with the enemy's weapons when his own ammunition
was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and finally, when only
3 men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered.
Twenty-five prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded
were counted. Sgt. Turner's valiant stand will live on as a constant inspiration
to his comrades His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination and
courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition 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)
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