Post by pdh54 on Sept 17, 2012 2:35:53 GMT 8
This young man was a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions on 15 December 1944 near Limon, Leyete in the Philippinnes.
I am sure most of you have read or heard about him, but since I am relatively new to this in-depth look at WWII things, I thought it wouldn't hurt anything to be reminded of what some of these men accomplished then.
From allproudamericans.com:
His name was Dirk John Vlug and he was a United States Army soldier.
It was December 15, 1944, while he was serving as a private first class in the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division when Vlug single-handedly destroyed five enemy tanks. Here is the chronology of what happened:
He left his covered position, and with a rocket launcher and 6 rounds of ammunition, advanced alone under intense machine gun and 37-mm. fire.
Loading single-handedly, he destroyed the first tank, killing its occupants with a single round.
As the crew of the second tank started to dismount and attack him, he killed 1 of the foe with his pistol, forcing the survivors to return to their vehicle, which he then destroyed with a second round.
Three more hostile tanks moved up the road, so he flanked the first and eliminated it.
He then, despite a hail of enemy fire, pressed forward again to destroy another.
With his last round of ammunition he struck the remaining vehicle, causing it to crash down a steep embankment.
Through his sustained heroism in the face of superior forces, Pfc. Vlug alone destroyed 5 enemy tanks and greatly facilitated successful accomplishment of his battalion's mission.
Dirk John Vlug was awarded the Medal of Honor a year and a half later, on June 26, 1946. Vlug passed away in 1996.
www.allproudamericans.com/US-Soldier-Single-Handedly-Destroyed-Five-Enemy-Tanks.html
www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3040/vlug-dirk-j.php
I am sure most of you have read or heard about him, but since I am relatively new to this in-depth look at WWII things, I thought it wouldn't hurt anything to be reminded of what some of these men accomplished then.
From allproudamericans.com:
His name was Dirk John Vlug and he was a United States Army soldier.
It was December 15, 1944, while he was serving as a private first class in the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division when Vlug single-handedly destroyed five enemy tanks. Here is the chronology of what happened:
He left his covered position, and with a rocket launcher and 6 rounds of ammunition, advanced alone under intense machine gun and 37-mm. fire.
Loading single-handedly, he destroyed the first tank, killing its occupants with a single round.
As the crew of the second tank started to dismount and attack him, he killed 1 of the foe with his pistol, forcing the survivors to return to their vehicle, which he then destroyed with a second round.
Three more hostile tanks moved up the road, so he flanked the first and eliminated it.
He then, despite a hail of enemy fire, pressed forward again to destroy another.
With his last round of ammunition he struck the remaining vehicle, causing it to crash down a steep embankment.
Through his sustained heroism in the face of superior forces, Pfc. Vlug alone destroyed 5 enemy tanks and greatly facilitated successful accomplishment of his battalion's mission.
Dirk John Vlug was awarded the Medal of Honor a year and a half later, on June 26, 1946. Vlug passed away in 1996.
www.allproudamericans.com/US-Soldier-Single-Handedly-Destroyed-Five-Enemy-Tanks.html
www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3040/vlug-dirk-j.php