FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John R Fox ~ 06 November 2017

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

John R. Fox
Info from here.

           

John Robert Fox (May 18, 1915–December 26, 1944) was killed in action when he deliberately called for artillery fire on his own position, after his position was overrun, in order to defeat a German attack in the vicinity of Sommocolonia, northern Italy during World War II. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 1997, for willingly sacrificing his life.

Fox was born in Cincinnati, Ohio May 18, 1915, and attended Wilberforce University, participating in ROTC under Aaron R. Fisher and graduating with an commission of second lieutenant in 1940. He was 29 years old when he called artillery fire on his own position the day after Christmas in 1944, for which he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1982. More than fifty years after his death, Fox was awarded the Medal of Honor. He is buried in Colebrook Cemetery in Whitman, Massachusetts.

In the early 1990s it was determined that African-American soldiers were denied consideration for the Medal of Honor solely due to their race. After a review, seven African-American soldiers had their Medals upgraded in January, 1997, to the Medal of Honor; First Lieutenant Fox was one of the seven.

The 92nd Infantry Division (colored), known as the Buffalo Soldiers, was a segregated African American division that fought in World War II. First Lieutenant John R. Fox was of the 366th Infantry Regiment when he made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defeat the enemy and save the lives of his fellow soldiers. In December 1944, Fox was part of a small forward observer party that volunteered to stay behind in the Italian village of Sommocolonia, in the Serchio River Valley. American forces had been forced to withdraw from the village after it had been overrun by the enemy. From his position on the second floor of a house, Fox directed defensive artillery fire.

The enemy was in the streets and attacking in strength, greatly outnumbering the small group of American soldiers. Fox radioed in to have the artillery fire adjusted closer to his position, then radioed again to have the shelling moved even closer. The soldier receiving the message was stunned, for that would bring the deadly fire right on top of Fox’s position; there was no way he would survive. When Fox was told this, he replied, “Fire it.” This shelling delayed the enemy advance until other units could reorganize to repel the attack.

His action permitted U.S. forces, who had been forced to withdraw, to organize a counterattack and regain control of the village. After the units had retaken the village, they found Fox’s body along with the bodies of about one hundred enemy soldiers.

After the war the citizens of Sommocolonia, Italy, erected a monument to nine men who were killed during the artillery barrage - eight Italian soldiers, and Lieutenant Fox.

In 2005, the toy company Hasbro introduced a 12-inch action figure & commemorating Lt. John R. Fox as part of its G.I. Joe series.

For his "gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, Fox was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His widow, the former Arlene Marrow of Brockton, Massachusetts, received his medal from President Bill Clinton in a White House ceremony on January 13, 1997. On that day, Clinton also awarded the medal to six other previously neglected African American World War II veterans, including Vernon Baker, who was the only one living when awarded.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy on 26 December 1944, while serving as a member of Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92d Infantry Division. During the preceding few weeks, Lieutenant Fox served with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion as a forward observer. On Christmas night, enemy soldiers gradually infiltrated the town of Sommocolonia in civilian clothes, and by early morning the town was largely in hostile hands. Commencing with a heavy barrage of enemy artillery at 0400 hours on 26 December 1944, an organized attack by uniformed German units began. Being greatly outnumbered, most of the United States Infantry forces were forced to withdraw from the town, but Lieutenant Fox and some other members of his observer party voluntarily remained on the second floor of a house to direct defensive artillery fire. At 0800 hours, Lieutenant Fox reported that the Germans were in the streets and attacking in strength. He then called for defensive artillery fire to slow the enemy advance. As the Germans continued to press the attack towards the area that Lieutenant Fox occupied, he adjusted the artillery fire closer to his position. Finally he was warned that the next adjustment would bring the deadly artillery right on top of his position. After acknowledging the danger, Lieutenant Fox insisted that the last adjustment be fired as this was the only way to defeat the attacking soldiers. Later, when a counterattack retook the position from the Germans, Lieutenant Fox's body was found with the bodies of approximately 100 German soldiers. Lieutenant Fox's gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, contributed greatly to delaying the enemy advance until other infantry and artillery units could reorganize to repel the attack. His extraordinary valorous actions were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

 

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! 

[radu]

I’d say you’re correct about your ineligibility. LOL

[mylife]

Oh I miss Pook

No one else liked me LOL

[luvie]

Hi there! Glad the weather was good in TN! I’m surprised you’re getting the cold front before we do. I guess it’s moving from a different direction. We’re supposed to get one on Wednesday. Wouldn’t you know I’d have to get up and go get bloodwork done on a cold morning? LOL!

Yay...you got some quality rest! I hope the soreness fades in a day or so!

[The Mayor]

It’s been raining here all day. We have over 9 inches above normal for the year.

I’m ready for the week, are you?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Interesting history....

[mylife]

what Lt fox did was extraordinary

He gave his life for others

[mylife]

Watch out for Sunday, He’ll pinch yer butt

Seriosly I have known this man for years and just found out last week that he served at Ft Hauchucha

[radu]

We’ll cool off a little tomorrow and Tues. but the cold settles in Wed. Not looking forward to it. It’s still 70 degrees outside right now. Hubby’s out mowing tonight and hopes it’ll be the last mowing for the season.

Yuck. No fun getting up for bloodwork no matter what the weather is.

It did feel good to finally get a good sleep. I conked out early and got up before noon. I’ll probably be back on regular “vampire” schedule tonight. LOL

[radu]

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[radu]

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...back on track with sleeping this week for you.

Any good moon shows tonight?

Snow for me...and the service came a bit ago and cleaned the driveway. The drive to work in the morning will be slow.

[luvie]

it’s 68 here. But our humidity is low. Hey, it was foggy here this morning, though! it was so nice....and quiet. it’s funny how quiet it is when the fog rolls in.

I’m actually looking forward to the cooler weather. It’s time...ya know?

Oh....and WOOHOO!!! Ya did it! I was totally into the show I was watching. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

A surprise 3” overnight....all the trees are now flocked and it is beautiful outside.

[luvie]

Oh, wow! Bet it’s pretty....now. In the morning, maybe not so much?

[Kathy in Alaska]

I’m ready...just need to drive slow. LOL!

[radu]

Yep, back to being a “vampire” again and going to bed with the sunrise. LOL! The shadows are all wrong when I have to wake up before noon. :-)

Actually, I just stepped outside a minute ago and the clouds are rolling past the moon at a nice clip and it’s pretty to watch. Still fairly warm outside and the wind felt good.

Good! Glad they were there to clean your driveway tonight. Still need to be careful going to work in the morning. I took a peek at the cams up there a little while ago and 4th Ave. looked like a glaze of ice. Not gonna be a fun drive for any of you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Now you have things to chat about with Sunday.

[radu]

You got some fog this morning? Cool! We didn’t get any last night because the wind kicked up fairly early. Not as strong as today but enough to keep fog from forming.

It does get quiet when there’s fog, doesn’t it? Kinda nice.

We’ll be happy to let you have our cold weather! Neither of us looks forward to it though we do need some long cold spells to kill off some bugs! Last winter wasn’t cold enough and we’ve been swarmed with all sorts of them.

I guess the ladybugs know it’s supposed to be a cold winter. They’re coming inside already and very few came in last year. They drive the cats nuts crawling around on the ceilings and high on the walls.

Glad you were engrossed in your tv show. I was sure you were going to beat me to the punch. LOL

[luvie]

Thank you for the prayers. Very heartbreaking........

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique, for the troops!!

radu.....#50!!