My father was up to his ass in Japanese infantry. He earned a Bronze Star that day and I always spend the anniversary reflecting on how close my family came to not existing.....Today when I was anxious over the Longhorns play, I remembered the date and thought, my dad knew more stress in one day than the Longhorns could give me in a lifetime.....
Award of the Bronze Star Medal.---By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order No. 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec. II, Bull No. 3, WD, 1944), and pursuant to authority contained in AR 600-45 (Decorations), 22 September 1943, as amended by Change No. 3, 25 April 1944, a Bronze Star Medal is awarded to the following named military personnel:
Sergeant Freeper, (then Private First Class), Infantry, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on 16 November 1944 during the Leyte Island Operation. During an attack in the foot hills west of Guinarona, Sergeant Freeper was a member of a rifle squad enveloping an enemy position containing two machine guns and four riflemen. Moving in from the left the squad was held up and to get to the position they had to move about fifty yards in the open. Under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, Sergeant Freeper made a one-man assault and firing his weapon as he moved, he succeeded in wiping out four riflemen and the two machine gunners. This display of courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety was a determining factor in his platoon completing its mission without further casualties.
P.S. for @GuaranteedFresh! and @clob94, my dad was lugging a BAR that day. I suppose the family owes a debt of gratitude to John Browning as well.....
Award of the Bronze Star Medal.---By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order No. 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec. II, Bull No. 3, WD, 1944), and pursuant to authority contained in AR 600-45 (Decorations), 22 September 1943, as amended by Change No. 3, 25 April 1944, a Bronze Star Medal is awarded to the following named military personnel:
Sergeant Freeper, (then Private First Class), Infantry, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on 16 November 1944 during the Leyte Island Operation. During an attack in the foot hills west of Guinarona, Sergeant Freeper was a member of a rifle squad enveloping an enemy position containing two machine guns and four riflemen. Moving in from the left the squad was held up and to get to the position they had to move about fifty yards in the open. Under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, Sergeant Freeper made a one-man assault and firing his weapon as he moved, he succeeded in wiping out four riflemen and the two machine gunners. This display of courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety was a determining factor in his platoon completing its mission without further casualties.
P.S. for @GuaranteedFresh! and @clob94, my dad was lugging a BAR that day. I suppose the family owes a debt of gratitude to John Browning as well.....
