FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Archer T Gammon ~ 01 December 2025

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Archer T. Gammon

Info from here.

Archer T. Gammon (September 11, 1918 ~ January 11, 1945) 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.

Gammon joined the Army from Roanoke, Virginia in March 1942, and by January 11, 1945 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division. On that day, near Bastogne, Belgium, he destroyed a German machine gun position before beginning a one-man assault on a Tiger Royal tank. He silenced a supporting machine gun emplacement and killed two infantrymen before he was killed by a shot from the tank. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on February 13, 1946.

Gammon, aged 26 at his death, was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Danville, Virginia.

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

He charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow to knock out a machinegun and its 3-man crew with grenades, saving his platoon from being decimated and allowing it to continue its advance from an open field into some nearby woods. The platoon's advance through the woods had only begun when a machinegun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent 88mm. shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. S/Sgt. Gammon, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the left, crossing the width of the platoon's skirmish line in an attempt to get within grenade range of the tank and its protecting foot troops. Intense fire was concentrated on him by riflemen and the machinegun emplaced near the tank. He charged the automatic weapon, wiped out its crew of 4 with grenades, and, with supreme daring, advanced to within 25 yards of the armored vehicle, killing 2 hostile infantrymen with rifle fire as he moved forward. The tank had started to withdraw, backing a short distance, then firing, backing some more, and then stopping to blast out another round, when the man whose single-handed relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and instantly killed by a direct hit from the Tiger Royal's heavy gun. By his intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no matter what the odds, S/Sgt. Gammon cleared the woods of German forces, for the tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad leader's platoon.

The USAT Sgt. Archer T. Gammon which served the United States Army at the end of World War II was named in his honor.

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!

[PROCON]

Thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero, Kathy!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Archer T Gammon ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...we must remember and honor our heroes.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving with family.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

All rested up after last week’s rush? Everything just about ready for this week?

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving and weekend?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope you had a nice day on the inside looking out. LOL

I actually went to the office and parking was a snap...no problems at all. The roads are wet, now waiting for the wet to freeze and a “wintery mix” per the guy on the radio as I drove home

[Kathy in Alaska]

Brought all the mail home from the office and will work on it from here. The garnishment checks were in, but the office was closed on Thursday so they didn’t get mailed. I’m working on them now so I can mail them tomorrow. Having a scanner is very handy for me to be able to do them start to finish. My next job this evening is to get them scanned, with the proper remits that need to go with the checks, and that is one job done. Brandy is on vacation this coming week. So I will probably have to go in Thursday morning.

Then I drove back and, with several navigational issues, finally found out how to get to B Street and might have found the new office location. Piece of cake to get to from my house, not so straightforward getting home. But I don’t have to work there during the week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[radu]

It was definitely a day to stay on the inside looking out. It was dark with a misty drizzle, and chilly. At least the wind they forecast wasn’t there. Breezy but not 25+ mph.

Bummer you had to head in to the office today but it sounds like it wasn’t to much of an ordeal. Once those wet roads freeze back over, police and wrecker services will be busy. Great that you work from home!
There’s a big system out there but it’s a little hard to tell how much you’ll get. Looks like the brunt will pass to the east and you’ll just get lighter precip. But we all know Mother Nature has a bad habit of changing her mind.

[radu]

Sounds like a busy day but not overwhelming. Having the scanner at home does make it nice so you can get things done at home. Don’t have to hang around the office.
I hope the weather doesn’t crap out the roads by Thursday when you have to go back to the office.

Hmmmm, one-way streets around town? They can make it hard to get to some areas. Gotta go roundabout when two-way streets would take you right there.

[luvie]

Archer T. Gammon
September 11, 1918 ~ January 11, 1945
United States Army
...and Medal of Honor recipient
for his actions in World War II.

I salute this brave hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

One way and East / West lane dividers. I can turn right off Tudor, north, onto B Street, but can’t get out the way I came in. Have to go north more and stair step home. I LOVE working from home!!!!!!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Was the weather a little better today? Not as windy?

Ugly here. We didn’t get the strong wind they’d forecast but it was dark, drizzly, and chilly. I haven’t stepped foot outside all day but guess I should check the well house to see if I need to turn on the heater.

[radu]

Is the office not at Dimond Center anymore?

I see the dividers on Tudor. Can’t turn left onto it from B Street. Not convenient.
What about C Street?

This time of year, with the weather y’all have, being able to work from home is a huge plus!

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy. Thanks for another bio!

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

It wasn’t as windy, but I’d guess that our high was about 35. Right now, it’s 33. My feet are cold even with sox on, because I’m sitting close to a window. Steve has his live chat tonight.

Looks like y’all are a few degrees cooler than us, but damper which makes it more bone-chilling.

[radu]

Yikes! It was colder there than it was here. It was 44 or so when I woke up but the temp was dropping. An hour after I woke up, it was 39. Sat there for quite a while but down to 34 at the moment. Just got back from checking the well house and it’s still 50 degrees in there.
The clouds have moved out and the cars are covered in heavy frost. Had to scrape the windshield so I could see to d rive over to the well house. Sure would be nice if we’d been able to dig the well closer to the house but the spot they chose was a good one. It’s a deep well.

[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 and thanks Kathy for honoring tonight's hero.

Yesterday at Comanche Lake:

We have to get through one more cloudy and cold day and then we get a warm up with a high of 53 on Tuesday.

How's everyone doing this morning?