134th Infantry Regiment Website
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Charles Ernest Kurtz was born
May 7, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois. He registered for the draft June 27, 1942 when
he was 19 years old. At that time he was living in Lakewood, Ohio and working at
the W W Sly Manufacturing Company in Cleveland. He enlisted in the Army February
18, 1943, served in the Weapons Platoon, Company G, 134th Infantry Regiment, and
landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy France July 5, 1944. He was promoted to
Sergeant, Squad Leader July 20, 1944 and awarded the Silver Star Medal August 8,
1944 for his leadership and heroic action during the battle for St Lo, France.
He was promoted to Staff Sergeant August 16, 1944. He was wounded in action on
September 11, 1944 in the vicinity of Pont-Saint-Vincent, France and was
evacuated to the 106th Field Hospital at Étampes, France. S/Sgt Charles E Kurtz
was discharged from the Army on August 17, 1946. He died March 5, 2010 and is
buried at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Seville, Ohio.
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Silver Star Medal Citation |
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Sergeant Charles E Kurtz 35556947 (then Private First Class), Infantry, United
States Army, for gallantry in action near * * * Normandy, France, on 15 July
1944. Sergeant Kurtz was an ammunition bearer in a mortar squad of his company
during the action on Hill Number 122 in the operation against * * * . When his
squad leader became a casualty, he at once proceeded under direct enemy fire and
observation, and, at the risk of his own life, to a disabled tank in the
vicinity, removed a light machine gun therefrom, returned to his squad, which he
reorganized and using the light machine gun as his own weapon, led the squad in
an aggressive attack against the enemy position. The intrepid bravery of
Sergeant Kurtz, his cool resourcefulness in the face of heavy enemy fire, and
his disregard for personal safety in making the mission at hand a matter of
primary importance, materially facilitated the accomplishment of the mission of
his unit and reflects credit upon the military service. Entered military service
from Ohio. General Orders No. 16, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 8 August 1944 |
