FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Junior J. Spurrier ~ October 1, 2012

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Junior J. Spurrier

Info from here.

           

Junior James Spurrier, born James I. Spurrier, Jr., was a United States Army soldier who received America's highest military decoration葉he Medal of Honor庸or his actions in World War II.

James I. Spurrier, Jr. was born on December 14, 1922, in Russell County, Kentucky. In September 1940, he enlisted in the Army. Spurrier filled his name in the wrong blanks, so he became "Junior J. Spurrier" to the Army. Near Lay St. Christopher, France, he earned the Distinguished Service Cross. He had spearheaded an assault on a stubbornly defended hill position. On a tank destroyer, he used a .50-caliber machine gun to kill over 12 Germans and captured 22 others. He climbed down to personally blow up bunkers with rifle fire and grenades.

On November 13, 1944, while serving as a Staff Sergeant with Company G, 134th Infantry, 35th Infantry Division, Spurrier fought Germans in Achain, Moselle, France. Repeatedly, Spurrier wandered into the command post with prisoners, replenished his ammo, then slipped out the door. Junior J. Spurrier earned the Medal of Honor for nearly single-handedly capturing the village of Achain that day. He received the Medal of Honor on March 6, 1945 from Lt. Gen. William Hood Simpson.

Spurrier had a very turbulent life after the war. He had a severe problem with alcohol, was discharged from the Army in 1951, and served two jail sentences.

He is buried in Mountain Home National Cemetery, Johnson City, Tennessee.

On Dec. 02 2011, Spurrier's Medal Of Honor was returned to his family after being located by Chief Craig Corkrean, in a safe belonging to his father.

Staff Sergeant Spurrier's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy at Achain, France, on 13 November 1944. At 2 p.m., Company G attacked the village of Achain from the east. S/Sgt. Spurrier armed with a BAR passed around the village and advanced alone. Attacking from the west, he immediately killed 3 Germans. From this time until dark, S/Sgt. Spurrier, using at different times his BAR and Ml rifle, American and German rocket launchers, a German automatic pistol, and handgrenades, continued his solitary attack against the enemy regardless of all types of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. As a result of his heroic actions he killed an officer and 24 enlisted men and captured 2 officers and 2 enlisted men. His valor has shed fresh honor on the U.S. Armed Forces.

 

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! 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[E.G.C.]

Monday Morning Coffee Bump.

[Huaynero]

Agree with your comment that death resulting from PTSI is very much a war wound. PTSI is a silent and patient killer.
When Lew Jr. was in Bethesda, his father asked a former shipmate and our mutual friend to visit his son and offer encouragement. I recall being totally stunned by my friends “Hard” Corps reaction to Lew Jr.’s rejection of encouragement. ‘Nuff said.
A lifetime before me but my personal view is that Lew Sr. was more than a little affected by PTSI. Death of his kid brother Sam on Guam, quickly followed by Peleliu pretty much iced the cake.
Lt. Col. Samuel D. Puller was a remarkable Marine in his own right. A Marine Raider, he commanded 1st Raiders for a time. Raiders eventually became the new 4th Marine Regiment. Colonel Puller was regimental XO at the time of his death on Guam.

[tomkow6]

 

 

 

 

 Good morning,

EVERYBODY!

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!

 

Cubs

60 WINS

99  LOSSES

 

 

I was the kid next door's imaginary friend.  
 

 

[left that other site]

It’s weird driving a Bike that actually grips the road.

I got used to sort of “Gliding along”.

[left that other site]

Thank God he went for help.

The invisible scars are the hardest to heal.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Tomkow6. How’s it going?

[luvie]

One eye open...
...one to go!
Hope y'all are awake, Early Birds!
However, not many of you here yet! :)
Hope ya all have a Mahv'lus Monday!
((((hugs))))

[SandRat]

Good morning, Kathy...((HUGS))...thought this article would be appropriate for the canteen.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How’s it going?

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

Everything’s good here...would rather be sleeping, of course! Hope you and Bo had a good weekend.

We had nearly 6 inches of rain over the weekend. Yay!

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. Looks like we will have 83º for a high today. I think fall has arrived.

[PROCON]

Morning to ya Beachie!!

What a nice, restful weekend I had, now back at.

The 1st day of October will bring 80 degrees to us out here, very pleasent!

Well, more coffee and I'm off...

Have a grandocious day!

[tomkow6]

HAPPY MONDAY, Edward!

[E.G.C.]

Just got back from getting my flu shot at the County Health Department.

[MEG33]

Good Monday Morning To The Canteen
*HUGS*
Happy October..A cool fall morning here!

[luvie]

Beautiful! Loving the fall weather!

[MEG33]

Thank you, LUV! I love fall.

[Arrowhead1952]

We had some showers pass to the west of us earlier and are staying in the low 80s for the day!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv...are you at your final destination yet?