GRUENNERT, KENNETH E. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company L, 127th Infantry,
32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Buna, New Guinea, 24 December
1942. Entered service at: Helenville, Wis. Birth: Helenville, Wis. G.O.
No.: 66, 11 October 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 24 December 1942, near
Buna, New Guinea, Sgt. Gruennert was second in command of a platoon with
a mission to drive through the enemy lines to the beach 600 yards ahead.
Within 150 yards of the objective, the platoon encountered 2 hostile pillboxes.
Sgt. Gruennert advanced alone on the first and put it out of action with
hand grenades and rifle fire, killing 3 of the enemy. Seriously wounded
in the shoulder, he bandaged his wound under cover of the pillbox, refusing
to withdraw to the aid station and leave his men. He then, with undiminished
daring, and under extremely heavy fire, attacked the second pillbox. As
he neared it he threw grenades which forced the enemy out where they were
easy targets for his platoon. Before the leading elements of his platoon
could reach him he was shot by enemy snipers. His inspiring valor cleared
the way for his platoon which was the first to attain the beach in this
successful effort to split the enemy position.
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