Sixty-seven years ago today and a long way from home . . .
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 11 November 1943, this soldier’s platoon was furnishing machinegun support for a rifle company attacking a hill near Mignano, Italy, when the enemy counterattacked, forcing the riflemen and half the machinegun platoon to retire to a defensive position. Pfc. Lindstrom saw that his small section was alone and outnumbered 5 to 1, yet he immediately deployed the few remaining men into position and opened fire with his single gun. The enemy centered fire on him with machinegun, machine pistols, and grenades. Unable to knock out the enemy nest from his original position, Pfc. Lindstrom picked up his own heavy machinegun and staggered 15 yards up the barren, rocky hillside to a new position, completely ignoring enemy small arms fire which was striking all around him. From this new site, only 10 yards from the enemy machinegun, he engaged it in an intense duel. Realizing that he could not hit the hostile gunners because they were behind a large rock, he charged uphill under a steady stream of fire, killed both gunners with his pistol and dragged their gun down to his own men, directing them to employ it against the enemy. Disregarding heavy rifle fire, he returned to the enemy machinegun nest for 2 boxes of ammunition, came back and resumed withering fire from his own gun. His spectacular performance completely broke up the German counterattack. Pfc. Lindstrom demonstrated aggressive spirit and complete fearlessness in the face of almost certain death.
See also:
Congressional Medal of Honor
Heroes of the Italian Campaign
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients
of the 3rd Infantry Division
Floyd K. Lindstrom
Floyd K. Lindstrom
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
/God bless and protect our troops, past, present, and future, so that they may protect our country and keep us safe
Filed under: Blog Entry | Tagged: 3d Infantry Division, Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty, Aggressive Spirit, Ammunition, Attacking, Certain Death, Colorado, Colorado Springs, Complete Fearlessness, Congressional Medal Of Honor, Conspicuous Gallantry, Counterattacked, Defensive Position, Enemy, Evergreen Cemetery, Floyd K. Lindstrom, German Counterattack, Grenades, Heavy Rifle Fire, Hostile Gunners, Intense Duel, Intrepidity, Italy, Large Rock, Machine Pistols, Machinegun, Machinegun Platoon, Machinegun Support, Medal Of Honor, Mignano, Pistol, Platoon, Private First Class, Rifle Company, Riflemen, Risk Of Life, Small Arms Fire, Spectacular Performance, Stream Of Fire, U.S. Army, Veteran, Veteran's Day, Withering Fire | Leave a comment »
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