Kenneth E. Gruennert

Infobox Military Person
name=Kenneth E. Gruennert
born=birth date|1922|11|19
died=death date and age|1942|12|24|1922|11|19
placeofbirth=Helenville, Wisconsin
placeofdeath=near Buna, New Guinea
placeofburial= Evergreen Cemetery Helenville, Wisconsin


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Sergeant
commands=
unit=127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division
battles=World War II
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Kenneth E. Gruennert (November 19 1922 – December 24 1942) 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.

Biography

Gruennert joined the Army from his birth place of Helenville, Wisconsin, and by December 24 1942 was serving as a Sergeant in Company L, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On that day, near Buna, New Guinea, he single-handedly destroyed an enemy position. Although seriously wounded, he refused medical evacuation and attacked a second enemy position, but was killed in the process. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on October 11 1943.

Gruennert, aged 20 at his death, was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in his hometown of Helenville, Wisconsin.

Medal of Honor citation

Sergeant Gruennert's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 24 December 1942, near Buna, New Guinea, Sgt. Gruennert was second in command of a platoon with a mission to drive through the enemy lines to the beach 600 yards ahead. Within 150 yards of the objective, the platoon encountered 2 hostile pillboxes. Sgt. Gruennert advanced alone on the first and put it out of action with hand grenades and rifle fire, killing 3 of the enemy. Seriously wounded in the shoulder, he bandaged his wound under cover of the pillbox, refusing to withdraw to the aid station and leave his men. He then, with undiminished daring, and under extremely heavy fire, attacked the second pillbox. As he neared it he threw grenades which forced the enemy out where they were easy targets for his platoon. Before the leading elements of his platoon could reach him he was shot by enemy snipers. His inspiring valor cleared the way for his platoon which was the first to attain the beach in this successful effort to split the enemy position.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

*findagrave|7614529 Retrieved on 2008-02-07

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (G-L)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16 2007
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html
accessdate = 2008-02-07

Persondata
NAME= Gruennert, Kenneth E.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=