FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Herschel F. Briles ~ February 20, 2012

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Herschel F. Briles

Story from this website.

           

Herschel F. Briles (February 7, 1914 – July 17, 1994) 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.

Briles joined the Army from Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and by November 20, 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company C, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion. On that day, near Scherpenseel, Germany, he left cover to rescue the wounded crew of a burning tank destroyer and extinguish the vehicle's flames. The next day, he single-handedly forced the surrender of fifty-five German soldiers and again left cover to reach a burning tank destroyer, rescue its crew, and put out the flames. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on September 10, 1945.

Briles reached the rank of first sergeant before leaving the Army.

He died at age 80 and was buried in Waveland Cemetery, Prairie City, Iowa.

Briles' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

    He was leading a platoon of destroyers across an exposed slope near Scherpenseel, Germany, on 20 November 1944, when they came under heavy enemy artillery fire. A direct hit was scored on 1 of the vehicles, killing 1 man, seriously wounding 2 others, and setting the destroyer afire. With a comrade, S/Sgt. Briles left the cover of his own armor and raced across ground raked by artillery and small-arms fire to the rescue of the men in the shattered destroyer. Without hesitation, he lowered himself into the burning turret, removed the wounded and then extinguished the fire. From a position he assumed the next morning, he observed hostile infantrymen advancing. With his machinegun, he poured such deadly fire into the enemy ranks that an entire pocket of 55 Germans surrendered, clearing the way for a junction between American units which had been held up for 2 days. Later that day, when another of his destroyers was hit by a concealed enemy tank, he again left protection to give assistance. With the help of another soldier, he evacuated two wounded under heavy fire and, returning to the burning vehicle, braved death from exploding ammunition to put out the flames. By his heroic initiative and complete disregard for personal safety, S/Sgt. Briles was largely responsible for causing heavy enemy casualties, forcing the surrender of 55 Germans, making possible the salvage of our vehicles, and saving the lives of wounded comrades.

Thank you sir, for your service and sacrifice for our country!

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]

Happy Presidents' Day, Early Birds!
For all of you that have to work...bummer!
I sympathize--I do too!
Everyone try to remember that it's not all about sales
but about two of our greatest presidents.
I pray we get back to having great presidents!
((((hugs))))

[MEG33]

*Thank You To All Who Serve Our Country*

Happy President's Day
Wishing You A Great Week
*HUGS*

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning ladies and (((HUGS))).

[luvie]

Awesome picture! Have a lovely day, Megs! (((hugs)))

[MEG33]

I’ll be scarce this week...company’s coming..Have a good one.

[MEG33]

;o)
Thank you!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, night owl ((HUGS))

A quick hello before I sign off.

Hope you have a magnificent Monday.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Meg ((HUGS))

A quick hello before I sign off.

Enjoy time with company.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. I've just come back from Billingsley Ford in Duncan where I got my Ford Ranger serviced for 30,000 miles.

How's it going for you this morning?

[SandRat]

Good Mornin’ now Kathy,...((HUGS))...no Nate reports.

Did get a call just now and the Girls are headed home from PHX.

[SandRat]

Yep,...I was the pet care stucky.

Well Mardi Paws & Claws is coming up soon.

[wjcsux]

Thanks Kathy! ((HUGS))

[blackie]

Thanks Kathy!

{{HUGS}}

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy company, Meg...((HUGS))...enjoy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, E...((HUGS))...hope you and Bo have a great Monday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, Arrowhead...((HUGS))...hope you are getting or expecting more rain. Thanks for breakfast.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Presidents' Day, beachy...((HUGS))
Hope you are having a nice day off. I'm at work.

[HiJinx]

Hope you are having a nice day off. I'm at work.

I reckon someone's got to do it...
Me too!

[HiJinx]

Downright nice here, today!

[HiJinx]

Likewise, looking like early summer in the Valley of the Sun!