WIEDORFER, PAUL J. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant (then Private), U.S. Army, Company
G, 318th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near, Chaumont,
Belgium, 25 December 1944. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Birth: Baltimore,
Md. G.O. No.: 45, 12 June 1945. Citation: He alone made it possible for
his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared
a wooded area of snipers, and 1 platoon was advancing across an open clearing
toward another wood when it was met by heavy machinegun fire from 2 German
positions dug in at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked
by enemy riflemen. The platoon took cover behind a small ridge approximately
40 yards from the enemy position. There was no other available protection
and the entire platoon was pinned down by the German fire. It was about
noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to
a 3-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground. Pvt. Wiedorfer,
realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until the 2 enemy
machinegun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone across the slippery
open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Running in a crouched
position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped and fell in the snow,
but quickly rose and continued forward with the enemy concentrating automatic
and small-arms fire on him as he advanced. Miraculously escaping injury,
Pvt. Wiedorfer reached a point some 10 yards from the first machinegun
emplacement and hurled a handgrenade into it. With his rifle he killed
the remaining Germans, and, without hesitation, wheeled to the right and
attacked the second emplacement. One of the enemy was wounded by his fire
and the other 6 immediately surrendered. This heroic action by 1 man enabled
the platoon to advance from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully
to reach its objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader
and the platoon sergeant were wounded, Pvt. Wiedorfer assumed command of
the platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission
was accomplished.
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