Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company C, 603d Tank Destroyer Battalion. Place and date: Near Arloncourt, Belgium, 15 January 1945. Entered service at: St. Ansgar, lowa. Born: 20 May 1909, Rock Township, Mitchell County, lowa. G.O. No.: 73, 30 August 1945.
Citation... He displayed conspicuous gallantry in action. His platoon,
in which he was a tank-destroyer gunner, was held up by antitank,
machinegun, and rifle fire from enemy troops dug in along a ridge about
200 yards to the front. Noting a machinegun position in this defense
line, he fired upon it with his 76-mm. gun killing 1 man and silencing
the weapon. He dismounted from his vehicle and, under direct enemy
observation, crossed open ground to capture the 2 remaining members of
the crew. |
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Another machinegun, about 250 yards to the left, continued to fire on him. Through withering fire, he advanced on the position. Throwing a grenade into the emplacement, he killed 1 crewmember and again captured the 2 survivors. He was subjected to concentrated small-arms fire but, with great bravery, he worked his way a quarter mile along the ridge, attacking hostile soldiers in their foxholes with his carbine and grenades. When he had completed his self-imposed mission against powerful German forces, he had destroyed 2 machinegun positions, killed 8 of the enemy and captured 18 prisoners, including 2 bazooka teams. Cpl. Beyer's intrepid action and unflinching determination to close with and destroy the enemy eliminated the German defense line and enabled his task force to gain its objective. | |
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