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Lt Edward Dahlgren Gets Congressional President Truman To Present CMH
T-Patch 36th Division News | 1 July 1945

Posted on 08/29/2005 4:24:06 AM PDT by Racehorse

The following article is part of a historical preservation project I'm completing.

Thought some the history buffs at FreeRepublic might enjoy the story as much as I did.

At times the writing is a bit over-the-top, but keep in mind the readers were men who had just survived similar combat. The newspaper staff had traveled with them and wrote for them from their landing at Salerno to VE Day celebrated in Austria.

Enjoy.

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A 29-year-old State of Maine-er, Second Lieutenant Edward C. Dahlgren, of the 142nd, who rose from buck private to lieutenant in 17 months of combat, has just been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

On his way back to the United States, via a plane from Paris, the South Portland, Me., resident is the ninth T-Patchman to receive the country's highest medal for valor.

Distinguished Career

Previous decorations included the Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star and Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart. He is also the recipient of five Battle Stars, the Combat Infantry Badge, one Arrow Head and the Good Conduct Medal.

It was on 15 March 1945, less than two years after he entered the service, that he received a battlefield appointment to Second Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Dahlgren won the highest military decoration in the Army for his exploits during bitter action at Oberhoffen, Germany, last February. He was a T/Sgt. with Easy Company at the time and during his action he destroyed two enemy machine guns, killed at least eight Germans, wounded an unknown number, and personally captured 39 of the enemy.

Entering the service on 23 March 1943, Lieutenant Dahlgren went through the usual basic training and in October of the same year, was on his way overseas. On 7 December 1943, he joined Company E of the 142nd as a private.

T-Patchmen, who were there, still talk of that morning on 11 February when Dahlgren went berserk and became a task force in himself in repulsing a Jerry counterattack and reorganized his forces to lead a successful American assault.

But that's getting ahead of the story which reads more like fiction than facts.

Bloody Oberhoffen

The Germans had launched a strong counterattack against the 2nd Battalion's positions and with their initial successes, had surrounded the 2nd platoon of Easy Company. The 2nd platoon was in a bad spot and, after repeated attempts to break out of the trap, the platoon leader phoned for help.

The 3rd platoon was taken out of company reserve in response to the appeal and Dahlgren split his forces into two groups and set out to contact and rescue the encircled men. He spotted an enemy force crossing a field toward the cemetery on his platoon's right. Dashing into a barn, after cautioning his men to wait, the T/Sgt. fired his submachine gun from a window, killing six Germans, wounding several others, and disorganizing the remainder. He then posted a BAR gunner to cover the open field and with his men he soon established contact with the cut-off platoon.

Launches Attack

In typical American fashion the two platoons were reorganized for a counterattack. Dahlgren continued the advance and moved around the rear of one of the houses occupied by the 2nd platoon. Here he was met with withering heavy enemy machine pistol and rifle fire, the fire power coming from the next building. Instead of seeking cover and concealment, the plucky T/Sgt. braved the rain of steel, weaving from one side to the other as he rushed toward the structure, 20 yards away. On the dead run he tossed a grenade into the door and then moved into the house, spraying it with his Tommy gun. Eight frightened Krauts surrendered.

Houses Cleared

Starting toward the next house, Dahlgren was fired upon by a machine gun which was set up in a window. Jumping back, he grabbed a rifle grenade launcher from one of his men and moved to a window. The angle of fire was great, due to the closeness of the buildings, but, nevertheless, he succeeded in destroying the machine gun and killing the two crew members. After silencing this menace, Dahlgren moved to the rear of the house and, while exposed in the doorway, another machine gun, set up in a barn, opened fire upon him. He immediately hurled a hand grenade into the barn and sprayed the enemy with his Tommy gun. As he entered, two Germans surrendered and in addition, three others who had been seriously wounded by the fire were taken.

Ten Captured

Reorganizing his group to continue in the assault, T/Sgt. Dahlgren moved toward the next house, this time encountering German rifle fire. Working his way between the two houses and entering the enemy-occupied building by a window, he opened fire, forcing the Germans to seek shelter in the cellar. Dahlgren soon remedied the situation by dropping hand grenades into their midst, wounding several and resulting in the capture of ten.

When all the houses had been cleared to the street junction, T/Sgt. Dahlgren and another man moved down an adjoining street in search of more Germans. The two men were not fired on but Dahlgren heard the unmistakable murmur of enemy voices in the next to the last house. After his comrade had fired two grenades into the building, he moved through the doorway, only to find that this enemy group had also fled to the basement. Kicking open the cellar door and firing several bursts into the enemy's hiding-place, Dahlgren called to them to surrender and received the reply "Kamerad". Sixteen German prisoners filed past the Sergeant with their hands in the air.


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans; Society
KEYWORDS: 36id; 36thdivision; medalofhonor; wwii

1 posted on 08/29/2005 4:24:08 AM PDT by Racehorse
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To: sonofatpatcher2

Ping


2 posted on 08/29/2005 4:58:04 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Now that taglines are cool, I refuse to have one.)
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