FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Harold O Messerschmidt ~ 19 January 2026

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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! 

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Harold O Messerschmidt ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

A little nicer up there today. NO SNOW! And there’s been some sunshine.
Hope the weekend’s been a good one.

[PROCON]

Good evening, Kathy and thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!

[wjcsux]

Kathy, thank you so much for remembering this great American hero.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope you are warming up.

Thankfully no snow today. I’ve had enough for a while.

[pierrem15]

Good example of why post-combat interviews with German POWs consistently report that among the enemies they had fought, close quarters combat with American forces was to be avoided at all costs. The Germans main complaint: the Americans would neither withdraw nor surrender but fought savagely with anything they could.

It's worth observing that Sgt. Messerschmidt was joined in fighting to the death by all of his squad.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...hope your weekend has gone well.

Have you had snow yet?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, wjcsux...glad you enjoyed his story.

[PROCON]

Not much snow here yet this Winter, how about snow up there?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, pierrem15...thank you for your added information.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Lots and lots and lots of snow all at once...over a foot at my house. Then a couple days above freezing, a little snow, and now ice.

[Kathy in Alaska]

radu!!

1st!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Pro!!

2nd!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

wjcsux!!

3rd!!

[kvanbrunt2]

From Chester, PA caught my eye, I live about 10 minutes from there and grew up here. And he is buried in Barnesville which is near where my mom was born. Minersville. Not far from the Yuengling plant. My mom’s maiden name was Weiderhold.

[decal]

We had our first freeze last night, and possibly another freeze tonight, hooWEE!

Now if we could only get a bit of rain...

[decal]

Don’t suppose he’s closely related to the aircraft designer, different spelling and all.