FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Harold O Messerschmidt ~ October 15, 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Harold O. Messerschmidt

Info from here.

           

Harold O. Messerschmidt (1923 – September 17, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Messerschmidt joined the Army from Chester, Pennsylvania in May 1943, and by September 17, 1944 was serving as a Sergeant in Company L, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. During a German attack on that day, near Radden, France, he led and encouraged his men until everyone in his unit had been killed or wounded. Ignoring his own wounds, he continued to fight the enemy force alone in hand to hand combat until he was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on July 17, 1946.

Messerschmidt, aged 20 or 21 at his death, was buried in Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Barnesville, Pennsylvania.

 

Sergeant Messerschmidt's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Braving machinegun, machine pistol, and rifle fire, he moved fearlessly and calmly from man to man along his 40-yard squad front, encouraging each to hold against the overwhelming assault of a fanatical foe surging up the hillside. Knocked to the ground by a burst from an enemy automatic weapon, he immediately jumped to his feet, and ignoring his grave wounds, fired his submachine gun at the enemy that was now upon them, killing 5 and wounding many others before his ammunition was spent. Virtually surrounded by a frenzied foe and all of his squad now casualties, he elected to fight alone, using his empty submachine gun as a bludgeon against his assailants. Spotting 1 of the enemy about to kill a wounded comrade, he felled the German with a blow of his weapon. Seeing friendly reinforcements running up the hill, he continued furiously to wield his empty gun against the foe in a new attack, and it was thus that he made the supreme sacrifice. Sgt. Messerschmidt's sustained heroism in hand-to-hand combat with superior enemy forces was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 

[luvie]

Umpfh........

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, E...((HUGS))...hope you and Bo are having a good Monday.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good afternoon Kathy and (((HUGS))). I’ve been taking out a vinyl floor for my neighbor. Not any fun.

[E.G.C.]

Monday Afternoon Coffee Bump.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good Evening To Our Valiant Troops, To Our Vets, To Our Families, Our FRiends, Our Allies And To All Canteen Denizens!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe, especially those in combat!



Evening Colors
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May The Lord Protect And Uphold Our Troops In Their Vital Mission!

May He Keep Safe Their Families During Their Time Of Separation!

May He Preserve And Uphold The American Nation In This Time Of Adversity!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Fullclip]

Thanks, my mother is dating a person that was in the same regiment as Audie Murphy. I booked marked this to ask him about this guy. The guy my mother is dating is 87 yrs. old! He was in the company stationed next to Murphy and spoke to him many times. He was in the same battle that Murphy got the MOH. Murphy’s company was in a field next to his shielded by woods. This guy got a silver star in France for taking out a machine gun nest.

[Kathy in Alaska]

WOW! Good for your Mom. Wishing them the best.

We thank him for his service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Voter fraud....I thought about that. LOL! And they used a #2 pencil! We had about 30 judges up for retention. Neither could handle any more circles, so no voting on that issue. Next election we may be doing the verbal thingy and I will fill in the circles.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Attempting to catch up....

Good afternoon, Arrowhead...((HUGS)...pulling up vinyl is not fun at all.
May I assume it is glued down? What a job!!
But you are a good neighbor.