US PARAS Zwingman, Otto Karl

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Zwingman
  • FORENAME
Otto Karl
  • UNIT
508 Parachute Infantry Regiment (Company D)
  • RANK
Private + Private First Class
  • NUMBER
32815665
  • AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross,Bronze Star
  • PLACE
Normandy 1944 (DSC)
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DSC as Pvt,BS as PFC
KIA - see Roll of Honour
 

ROLL OF HONOUR:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/zwingman-otto-k.22535/

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 Private Otto K. Zwingman (ASN: 32815665), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. After landing by parachute before dawn on D-Day and joining a composite group which proceeded to carry out a battalion mission, Private Zwingman and two comrades served as an outpost in a building on the edge of Guetteville. When a battalion of German infantry, reinforced by tanks, approached from the west and placed machine guns and mortars in position, those three valiant men immediately opened fire on the enemy. Ordered to leave the post, they determined to hold out until the 30 men in the town had withdrawn. Private Zwingman assisted in holding the hostile force at bay for two hours, killing 15 Germans and wounding many others. His voluntary and courageous action delayed the enemy sufficiently to permit the main body of parachute troops to establish defensive positions to the east from which they were able to deny overwhelming German forces the opportunity of crossing the Merderet River. Private Zwingman is missing as a result of this action. His superb heroism and unselfish devotion to duty exemplifies the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/22828

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56361792/otto-karl-zwingman
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