FSSF Michaels, Paul Hayes

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Michaels ​

• FORENAME

Paul Hayes​

• UNIT

3 Regiment (5 Company) ​

• RANK

Private ​

• NUMBER

15018496 ​

• DATE OF DEATH

5th January 1944 ​

• AGE

• GRAVESITE

McGormley Cemetery,Ballville,Sandusky County,Ohio ​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

USA​

from Fremont,Sandusky County,Ohio​

born 1922 Ohio​

son of Rutherford Brichard Hayes and Mary Willetta (nee Adams) Michaels​

graduated Ross High School 1940​

cook in civilian life​

enlisted 26.3.1941 Fort Hayes,Columbus,Ohio​

KIA Italy ​

​

 

[toopuppy]

Paul H. Michaels

My fathers name was Steve Pasztor. Paul Michaels was a friend of my fathers. What happened was their platoon pulled a raid on a company of germans atop Mt. Majo in Italy. Platoon leader 1st. Lt. Cuddy was a little bit late in ordering the platoon to withdraw and 3 or 4 forcemen were wounded. Pvt. Michaels was wounded seriously and had to be put on a stretcher. While making their way back to the american lines Lt. Cuddy said that 3 men will have provide cover fire for the platoon while they make their way with the wounded across a small valley and up another hill. My father was the assistant section leader and while discussing with the other men in his section which 3 would stay behind to cover the withdraw of the platoon it was decided that one man would stay behind alone because if one of the 3 men were to be seriously wounded, the other two men will probably get killed or captured while trying to help the wounded man back to the american lines. Since he was the assistant section leader my father decided he would be the one to singlehandedly cover the withdraw of the platoon. When the 125 or so germans started to make thier way up the hill where my father was at he shot at them with his Tommygun. After a while one of the germans managed to shoot my father in the left shoulder, right under the collar bone. My father said this hurt but he looked behind him and saw that some of the men had still not reached the safety of the other hill. So he moved to another position and kept firing at the germans hitting 6 or 7 of them. After my father noticed that all of the other men in the platoon had reached the safety of the other side of the hill he tossed a big double handfull of hand grenades at the germans and ran as fast as he could for the safety of the american lines. A few hours later Pvt. Michaels died. For this action my father was awarded the Purple Heart and in 1985 he was awarded the Bronze Star with a V for valor. If anyone has any further information contact me at <<<<<<<<< davidpasztor1957@live.com >>>>>>>>>>