US PARAS Whitley, Charles Vaiden

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Whitley ​

• FORENAME

Charles Vaiden ​

• UNIT

517 Parachute Infantry Regiment (Company E) ​

• RANK

First Lieutenant ​

• NUMBER

0-520914 ​

• AWARD

Bronze Star ​

• PLACE

Europe ​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

KIA - see Roll of Honour ​

​

 

[Tony Whitley]

1st Lt Charles V. Whitley.
Easy Company, 517th PIR
Killed In Action (KIA) 3 January 1945 Trois Points, Belgium


EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 9396
PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION

FIRST BATTALION, 517th PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT
"The 1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy during the period 22 through 26 December 1944, attached to the 3rd Armored Division at the height of the German counter-offensive, committed to battle in the vicinity of Soy, Belgium, at 1700, 22 December 1944, the 1st Battalion fought continuously until 1700, 24 December 1944, to contain the German attacking forces and regain the initiative. In bitter cold, and against
numerically superior enemy forces, the Ist Battalion accomplished all assigned missions in fighting from Soy to Hotton, Belgium, checking and displacing the enemy forces driving towards Liege and Namur. This battalion captured the high ground controlling the road nets at Haid Hits and Hotton, cleared the enemy forces in its sector, relieved the beleaguered American Forces at Hotton, and established a main line of resistance on a 6,000-yard front from Soy to Hatton, from which an
attack was launched to the south by a fresh infantry regiment. At 1200, on 25
In December 1944, when this regiment failed to accomplish its mission, the 1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry, with less than a day's rest was further committed, and captured, with a handful of remaining men, the hill objective La Rountere 01 Fange, from which reinforced battalion had been repulsed with severe casualties, Through repeated displays of individual and collective gallantry, the officers and men of this battalion accomplished with distinction every action assigned to their commander and gained the appreciative adoration of all adjacent units with whom they fought. Suffering 157 casualties, the 1st battalion accounted
for 210 enemy dead and 16 captured. This battalion exhibited a high sense of duty and will to fight and, through the resulting achievements, reflect great credit on its parent unit and the armed forces of the United States.*

(General Orders 50, Headquarters, United States Forces, European Theater, 27 Dec 45)

 

[Craig Robertson]

Thanks @Tony Whitley , i've added his photos to his record for 'Roll of Honour' and 'Awards'. I've also added his Bronze Star Citation.