Homer L. Wise

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Homer L. Wise
February 27, 1917(1917-02-27) – April 22, 1974 (aged 57)
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Homer L. Wise, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank First Sergeant
Unit 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Medal of Honor

Homer L. Wise (February 27, 1917 – April 22, 1974) 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.

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[edit] Biography

Wise joined the Army from his birth city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and by June 14, 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company L, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. On that day, in Magliano, Italy, Wise carried a wounded man to safety and repeatedly went ahead of his unit to engage the German forces alone. For his actions during the battle, he was issued the Medal of Honor six months later, on December 8, 1944.

Wise rose to the rank of first sergeant before leaving the Army. He died at age 57 and was buried in Saint John's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Darien, Connecticut.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Staff Sergeant Wise's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

While his platoon was pinned down by enemy small-arms fire from both flanks, he left his position of comparative safety and assisted in carrying 1 of his men, who had been seriously wounded and who lay in an exposed position, to a point where he could receive medical attention. The advance of the platoon was resumed but was again stopped by enemy frontal fire. A German officer and 2 enlisted men, armed with automatic weapons, threatened the right flank. Fearlessly exposing himself, he moved to a position from which he killed all 3 with his submachinegun. Returning to his squad, he obtained an M1 rifle and several antitank grenades, then took up a position from which he delivered accurate fire on the enemy holding up the advance. As the battalion moved forward it was again stopped by enemy frontal and flanking fire. He procured an automatic rifle and, advancing ahead of his men, neutralized an enemy machinegun with his fire. When the flanking fire became more intense he ran to a nearby tank and exposing himself on the turret, restored a jammed machinegun to operating efficiency and used it so effectively that the enemy fire from an adjacent ridge was materially reduced thus permitting the battalion to occupy its objective.

[edit] See also

United States Army Portal

[edit] References

Persondata
NAME Homer L. Wise
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH February 27, 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH Baton Rouge, Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH April 22, 1974
PLACE OF DEATH