Ernest W. Prussman

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Ernest W. Prussman
Died September 8, 1944
Ernest W. Prussman, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Baltimore, Maryland
Place of death	near Les Coates, Brittany, France
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Private First Class
Unit	13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor

Ernest W. Prussman (died September 8, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

1 Biography
2 Medal of Honor citation
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Biography

Prussman joined the Army from Brighton, Massachusetts, and by September 8, 1944 was serving as a private first class in the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. On that day, near Les Coates in Brittany, France, Prussman advanced ahead of his unit and single-handedly captured several enemy soldiers and destroyed a machine gun nest before being killed. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor seven months later, on April 17, 1945.

Prussman was buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, Basse-Normandie, France.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Private First Class Prussman's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 September 1944, near Les Coates, Brittany, France. When the advance of the flank companies of 2 battalions was halted by intense enemy mortar, machinegun, and sniper fire from a fortified position on his left, Pfc. Prussman maneuvered his squad to assault the enemy fortifications. Hurdling a hedgerow, he came upon 2 enemy riflemen whom he disarmed. After leading his squad across an open field to the next hedgerow, he advanced to a machinegun position, destroyed the gun, captured its crew and 2 riflemen. Again advancing ahead of his squad in the assault, he was mortally wounded by an enemy rifleman, but as he fell to the ground he threw a handgrenade, killing his opponent. His superb leadership and heroic action at the cost of his life so demoralized the enemy that resistance at this point collapsed, permitting the 2 battalions to continue their advance.