FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Harold O. Messerschmidt ~ 25 November 2019

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Harold O. Messerschmidt

Info from here.

           

Harold O. Messerschmidt (1923 – September 17, 1944) 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.

Messerschmidt joined the Army from Chester, Pennsylvania in May 1943, and by September 17, 1944 was serving as a Sergeant in Company L, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. During a German attack on that day, near Radden, France, he led and encouraged his men until everyone in his unit had been killed or wounded. Ignoring his own wounds, he continued to fight the enemy force alone in hand to hand combat until he was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on July 17, 1946.

Messerschmidt, aged 20 or 21 at his death, was buried in Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Barnesville, Pennsylvania.

 

Sergeant Messerschmidt's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Braving machinegun, machine pistol, and rifle fire, he moved fearlessly and calmly from man to man along his 40-yard squad front, encouraging each to hold against the overwhelming assault of a fanatical foe surging up the hillside. Knocked to the ground by a burst from an enemy automatic weapon, he immediately jumped to his feet, and ignoring his grave wounds, fired his submachine gun at the enemy that was now upon them, killing 5 and wounding many others before his ammunition was spent. Virtually surrounded by a frenzied foe and all of his squad now casualties, he elected to fight alone, using his empty submachine gun as a bludgeon against his assailants. Spotting 1 of the enemy about to kill a wounded comrade, he felled the German with a blow of his weapon. Seeing friendly reinforcements running up the hill, he continued furiously to wield his empty gun against the foe in a new attack, and it was thus that he made the supreme sacrifice. Sgt. Messerschmidt's sustained heroism in hand-to-hand combat with superior enemy forces was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

 

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]

Good evening, MuttTheHoople...what a great observation.

[Kathy in Alaska]

In first....ML grabs the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....my snags the silver!!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[PROCON]

Hey radu!

We're in for c-c-cold nights and days, hope all is well with you and the kittehs.

You all ready for Thanksgiving in your new digs? 😎

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....Pro bags the bronze!!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I see it’s a winter wonderland up there again. There were some huge snowflakes coming down earlier this afternoon. There was a heck of a view from the airport as that mess moved in. Pretty but I’m soooooooooo glad it was miles away from here. LOL

[dznutz]

There is a YouTube channel called Medal Of Honor Book that has five to ten minute videos of Medal of Honor recipients recounting their actions. Many from WWII. They are all so humble.

Medal of Honor Book link

[radu]

Howdy, PRO!

You’re more than welcome to keep the cold up there. LOL!
Our days aren’t going to be too bad but nights will be right brisk. Gonna be a soggy week down here but fortunately it’ll be rain and not snow.

Kittehs are all doing well except Jool. I believe she’s trying to check out. Won’t eat so I’ve been force-feeding her the past few days. She’s 17 and a half now so it’s no surprise she’s at this point. Simply out of steam now. If I can get her to the vet tomorrow, her wish will be granted in an easy, quick fashion.

We aren’t even close to being in the other house. That makes Thanksgiving easy for me .... no cooking a big meal. He gets to eat a TV dinner or whatever else he wants to scrounge up. To say I’m miffed is a major understatement.

[radu]

Howdy, LUV.

Hope you had a good day and nice weather.

It was gorgeous here .... complete opposite of yesterday when we had rain and gloom. But we needed the rain and have no complaints.

[PROCON]

So sorry to hear about Jool-kitteh, never easy to say goodbye.

Whoa, hubby is in the doghouse, huh. Let's see if he wises up after Thanksgiving?

[radu]

Jool’s had a long, good life so I’m at peace with this. I’ll miss her, as I do any of the kittehs when they’re gone, but when it’s time, it’s time. I’d rather let her go quickly than let her linger for days. She’s not happy right now.

Yeah, Hubby’s not done a thing at the other house all week. BUT, he just walked out the door to do some work on the cable that will run between where our computers will be. That and finishing the wood flooring in the living room where he tore out that wall are all that needs to be done. Even if he finishes tomorrow, we can’t make move until we have help from his buddies and they work during the week. No way I can help with the appliances and heavy furniture.

[luvie]

Hey, radu! Yes,it was gorgeous here today. Not to warm or too chilly. Supposed to get really cold on Wednesday. Which shouldn’t surprise anyone since it’s nearly December. LOL!

Glad it was nice there, too. Were you able to PROD someone into working at the other house? ;)

[radu]

Bummer it’s going to get cold there. Our temps are running a little below normal - low 50s rather than upper 50s - but no real cold weather is expected here. Just wet.

Hubby’s at the other house right now for the first time in a week. Still not going to get him a Thanksgiving dinner. :-)

[luvie]

That’ll teach him! LOL! Maybe if he finishes it? :)

I can guarantee that it won’t stay cold very long. It never does. Supposed to rain, too, but not holding my breath.

[radu]

Nope, even if he finishes he doesn’t get the dinner. I’d asked him if we’d be in by Thanksgiving a few weeks ago and he said yes. I told him then if we weren’t, no dinner.

We have rain chances every day this week beginning Tues. At least it’ll be rain and not snow, and we do need the rain. We got almost 3 inches Friday and yesterday.

Darn it! Sreve is wrapping up his stream. Quick, tell him those personal vaporizers are great! I have one and even use it for the cats when they’re stuffed up.

[luvie]

Oh, rats! I wish I had seen your post before he signed off. Poor guy is really miserable. I was watching last year when he was so sick, and it was pathetic. It was a very important story...can’t remember what....and he could barely talk. But he only gets donations when he’s there....so....

I’ll bet he’ll start taking you seriously now. Maybe it at least put a fire under him. It’s been way too long!

3 inches of rain? Wow....that’s fantastic. Have you burned your trash yet? LOL! Hope it doesn’t get cold enough to snow...here or there. Although, seeing the kitties with their first snow might be a hoot. They will be so shocked!

[radu]

I was afraid you wouldn’t see it in time. I wish he’d brought that up well before he was ready to sign off. I really like the one I got a couple of years ago. I hope someone lets him know to get one.

Hubby will do a bit tonight and probably do nothing for another week. That’s been his MO for a while.

I was shocked at how much rain we ended up with. I didn’t expect it but sure am glad we got it. I haven’t burned the trash yet because it was windy this afternoon but I just realized it isn’t now. Better do it while I can, huh?

It definitely won’t get cold enough to snow here. Our days will be mild and the nights chilly but not cold enough to worry about. I hope it doesn’t get cold enough to snow there but it would be funny to see your kittehs’ reaction to it. The first time is usually a hoot. LOL

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[21twelve]

Heh. I had to read it again “...all in his company were dead or wounded.”

With him clubbing the Germans to death, I can imagine he was just filled with rage that all of his buddies had been killed or injured.