- Robert E. Gerstung
Infobox Military Person
name=Robert E. Gerstung
born= birth date|1915|8|6
died= death date and age|1979|6|17|1915|8|6
placeofbirth=Chicago, Illinois
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=Arlington National Cemetery
caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Technical Sergeant
commands=
unit=313th Infantry Regiment , 79th Infantry Division
battles=World War II
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=Robert E. Gerstung (
August 6 1915 –June 17 1979 ) was aUnited States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—theMedal of Honor —for his actions inWorld War II .Biography
Gerstung joined the Army from his birth city of
Chicago, Illinois , and byDecember 19 1944 was serving as atechnical sergeant in Company H,313th Infantry Regiment , 79th Infantry Division. On that day, near Berg,Germany , he manned amachine gun in support of an infantry assault on theSiegfried Line . He remained at his gun despite intense enemy fire, even after all other men in hissquad were killed or wounded. He crossed open terrain to retrieve more ammunition, commandeered another machine gun after his first was disabled by hostile fire, and, when the order came to withdrawal, he remained behind to cover the infantry's retreat. Gerstung was wounded while trying to return to friendly lines, but managed to drag himself and his machine gun to safety. He recovered from his wounds and, onSeptember 5 1945 , was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.Gerstung left the Army while still a technical sergeant. He died at age 63 and was buried in
Arlington National Cemetery ,Arlington County, Virginia .Medal of Honor citation
Technical Sergeant Gerstung's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
On 19 December 1944 he was ordered with his heavy machinegun squad to the support of an infantry company attacking the outer defense of the Siegfried Line near Berg, Germany. For 8 hours he maintained a position made almost untenable by the density of
artillery and mortar fire concentrated upon it and the proximity of enemy troops who threwhand grenade s into the emplacement. While all other members of his squad became casualties, he remained at his gun. When he ran out of ammunition, he fearlessly dashed across bullet-swept, open terrain to secure a new supply from a disabled friendlytank . A fierce barrage pierced thewater jacket of his gun, but he continued to fire until the weapon overheated and jammed. Instead of withdrawing, he crawled 50 yards across coverless ground to another of his company's machineguns which had been silenced when its entire crew was killed. He continued to man this gun, giving support vitally needed by the infantry. At one time he came under direct fire from a hostile tank, which shot the glove from his hand with anarmor-piercing shell but could not drive him from his position or stop his shooting. When the American forces were ordered to retire to their original positions, he remained at his gun, giving the only covering fire. Finally withdrawing, he cradled the heavy weapon in his left arm, slung a belt of ammunition over his shoulder, and walked to the rear, loosing small bursts at the enemy as he went. One hundred yards from safety, he was struck in the leg by a mortar shell; but, with a supreme effort, he crawled the remaining distance, dragging along the gun which had served him and his comrades so well. By his remarkable perseverance, indomitable courage, and heroic devotion to his task in the face of devastating fire, T/Sgt. Gerstung gave his fellow soldiers powerful support in their encounter with formidable enemy forces.ee also
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War IIReferences
*findagrave|6157322 Retrieved on
2008-02-08 *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 = 2008-02-08Persondata
NAME= Gerstung, Robert E.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
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