- SURNAME
Wallace
- FORENAME
George Vernon
- UNIT
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
- RANK
Private First Class
- NUMBER
38134034
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Normandy 6th June 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 16.12.1921 Santa Anna, Coleman County, Texas, USA
2 years high school
civil occupation Carpenter
unemployed on draft card
resided Whon Route, Santa Anna, Coleman County, Texas (draft card)
16.02.1942 draft card Santa Anna, Coleman County, Texas
single without dependents upon enlistment
07.07.1942 entered service Abilene, Texas
26.11.1945 discharged
1950 married Cletha (nee Williams) Wallace (1920-2003)
09.10.1951 entered service
30.06.1966 discharged
died 12.10.2000 (Aged 78) Veterans Hospital, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina
Williams Family Cemetery, Autryville, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class George V. Wallace (ASN: 38134034), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 6 June 1944, near ****, France. Private First Class Wallace, assistant machine gunner, was in position at the east end of the Waal River Bridge when the enemy launched an assault supported by intense artillery and mortar fire which caused heavy casualties. He and one other man remained with their guns and fired on the three German tanks leading the attack, killing the tank commander. The accuracy of his fire forced the tank to “button up” and run blindly into bazooka fire which destroyed it. The remaining tanks fired their machine guns and cannon directly at Private First Class Wallace’s position, but he stuck to his gun and helped force them to the same fate. Eight attempts in all were made by the enemy to cross the river but Private First Class Wallace and his comrade stood by their guns all night and broke up every assault, killing an estimated 150 Germans. The gallant determination and high courage of Private First Class Wallace in a critical moment of the Airborne assault in Normandy reflects great credit on the man and his organization.
WEB LINKS:
• https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-91790/FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49632151/george_vernon-wallace
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