Max Thompson; USA; Sgt US Army; Germany

theblackalchemist · Jan 31, 2010

Biography said:

World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Sergeant in 3d Squad, 3d Platoon, Company K, 3d Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on October 18, 1944 near Haaren, Germany. He was presented the Medal on June 18, 1945 near Cheb, Czechoslovakia by Lt. Gen. Clarence R. Hubner.
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Medal of honor citation said:

On 18 October 1944, Company K, 18th Infantry, occupying a position on a hill near Haaren, Germany, was attacked by an enemy infantry battalion supported by tanks. The assault was preceded by an artillery concentration, lasting an hour, which inflicted heavy casualties on the company. While engaged in moving wounded men to cover, Sgt. Thompson observed that the enemy had overrun the positions of the 3d Platoon.

He immediately attempted to stem the enemy's advance single-handedly. He manned an abandoned machinegun and fired on the enemy until a direct hit from a hostile tank destroyed the gun. Shaken and dazed, Sgt. Thompson picked up an automatic rifle and although alone against the enemy force which was pouring into the gap in our lines, he fired burst after burst, halting the leading elements of the attack and dispersing those following. Throwing aside his automatic rifle, which had jammed, he took up a rocket gun, fired on a light tank, setting it on fire.

By evening the enemy had been driven from the greater part of the captured position but still held 3 pillboxes. Sgt. Thompson's squad was assigned the task of dislodging the enemy from these emplacements. Darkness having fallen and finding that fire of his squad was ineffective from a distance, Sgt. Thompson crawled forward alone to within 20 yards of 1 of the pillboxes and fired grenades into it.

The Germans holding the emplacement concentrated their fire upon him. Though wounded, he held his position fearlessly, continued his grenade fire, and finally forced the enemy to abandon the blockhouse. Sgt. Thompson's courageous leadership inspired his men and materially contributed to the clearing of the enemy from his last remaining hold on this important hill position.
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Biography
Medal of honor citation

Regards,
TBA

theblackalchemist · Jan 31, 2010

Personal account said:

'K' Company has been unofficially notified that one of its platoon sergeants, T/Sgt. Max Thompson, has been awarded the Nation's highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor, for his "one-man riot-act" around the pillboxes of Ravels "B" during the bitter battle of Aachen last fall.

The formal citation order can not tell the full story of his work on that cold and rainy day back in October, but an eye witness account by Staff Sergeant James E. Osborne, his fighting buddy and member of the platoon at the time, gives a realistic picture of the action.

"It was on the morning of October 18th, 1944, that the Krauts threw a helluva big counterattack at the battalion; trying to drive us off the hill, which we nicknamed, "Ravels B". They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us in one hour before they sent one of the biggest infantry attacks I have ever seen before or since. They used more tanks than I like to count at one time and more half-tracks."

"God, it was miserable! I mean the weather; wet, muddy, and cold, some of our weapons wouldn't operate. Jerry machine guns opened up, and the casualties were starting to mount. One of the guys mentioned surrender and then Max started in. He said, "When you're the last man up here, then you can do what you want, but until then we'll keep fighting".

Then he went into his act. He was like a tiger on the loose; he led a squad against a Jerry machine-gun, and he, himself, xxxx xxx out the crew. He'd run out of ammo and then get himself another weapon from a dead buddy. He fired M-1s, carbine bazookas and even an abandoned 60 mm mortar.

"All day long he was into it with the Jerries. I don't know how one guy could do it but I can verify that he personally knocked out two tanks with rifle grenades and bazooka. He killed scores of Kraut with that crazy courage of his and the strangest part if it was his tirelesness. He kept going hour after hour, keeping our guys punching, always in the thick of it, until darkness. Even then he still had one more deal to pull."

"It's hard to believe but what was left of us, saw it. He took out a patrol to recapture a pillbox that night. Most of the Hun had taken off when the counterattack was repulsed but one pill box remained in Jerry hands. We were all so tired we could hardly walk, but the thought of one mistake and we'd all be goners, kept us on our toes."

"Less than 100 yards from the "box", Nazi machinegun fire opened up. We hit the dirt, but not Max. He fingered his grenade bag and took off. Throwing grenades as he ran, he was wounded by their shrapnel, but he never quit. He got up to that pill box and threw two more grenades. The Krauts inside waved the white flag and hollered "kamerad". I half-think the Jerries in that box recognized Max's voice from the previous afternoon and figured they damn well give up."

That was the story as told by a member of Sgt. Thompson's platoon. A story of the muddy, weary, shell-hardened doughboy who was inspired to deed of great heroism.

Thompson's award of the Medal of Honor is, the fifth to be a member of the 18th Infantry Regiment. Other holders of America's highest award are: Pvt Carlton W. Barrett, for his work on the beach June 6, 1944, Lt. Walter D. Ehlers (then Staff Sergeant) for a series of acts June 9 and 10, 1944 while the Regiment was fighting inland to the La-Vacquerie-Caumont sector:
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Personal account

Just a personal account from a witness.

Regards,
TBA

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Max Thompson; USA; Sgt US Army; Germany

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