- SURNAME
Courtney
- FORENAME
William J.
- UNIT
2 Ranger Bn (Company A)
- RANK
Sergeant
- NUMBER
15104744
- AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
- PLACE
Normandy 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
resided Cuyahoga, Ohio
born 1921, New York
single without dependents upon enlistment
civil occupation Actor
1 year college
17.07.1942 enlisted Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana
promoted S/Sgt
Silver Star listed in "The Battalion"
CITATION:
Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant William J. Courtney (ASN: 15104744), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion, in action against enemy forces on 7 June 1944, in France. While advancing as the point of a column into a village, Sergeant Courtney met point-blank machine gun fire. Without hesitation he moved forward and destroyed this enemy machine gun. He continued to move into the village and was suddenly subjected to a barrage of enemy mortar and small arms fire. He engaged the enemy in this uneven fire fight, killing two enemy riflemen and remained at this advanced position until the enemy withdrew. Sergeant Courtney's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/22009http://www.rangerroster.org/SearchDetails.asp?ID=2212
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