Ist [1st] Sgt. Rimmer's Company was one of the two Infantry Assault Companies of a Task Force which was assigned the mission of driving the enemy from the area North and East of Bastogne. Bitter resistance was met and intense enemy fire resulted in extremely heavy casualties in Sgt. Rimmer's Company. He personally led one group of men through this heavy fire to the Company's objective but they were immediately counter-attacked by enemy tanks and infantry and forced to withdraw. Every officer and all but one Platoon Sergeant in the Company became casualties and the leaderless men became disorganized and retreated from the enemy armor. At this critical point Ist [1st] Sgt. Rimmer assumed command of the Company, reorganized and rallied the men and gallantly led them forward, quickly repulsing the counter-attack and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. He then organized a defensive line, and established and maintained liaison with adjacent units. Later, supecting that the enemy had infiltrated into a wooded area on their flank, he made his way under artillery fire around the area and single-handedly captured ten enemy soldiers. During the ensuing four days and nights Sgt. Rimmer organized and voluntarily led combat patrols into enemy territory and led searching parties, in an effort to locate dead and wounded of his Company. During this period, repeated enemy counter-attacks were thrown back and Sgt. Rimmer's aggressive and courageous leadership was directly responsible for this success in preventing and [an] enemy breakthrough that would have endangered the entire Task Force.
Throughout this six day period Sgt Rimmer showed exceptional courage and skill in the tactical employment of his Company under the most trying conditions. He repeatedly demonstrated utter disregard for his own safety in the interests of the success of his Unit, and his aggressiveness and inspirational leadership during this crucial period was directly responsible for preventing the disorganization of his Company. He exhibited conspicuous gallantry and set a shining example for men to follow.
|
Pfc Ebersole was a member of the machine gun platoon from Hq. Co., when in the course of very bitter fighting near Bastogne, it became neccessary to use his platoon in the line with the rifle companies. At 0500 the morning of January 4, 1945 and at 0400 the morning of January 6, 1945, the enemy attacked our position with tanks and infantry. On both occasions enemy infantry advanced to within 25 yards of Pfc Ebersole's position. During the first attack in the face of heavy small arms and machine gun fire, and direct fire from the tank guns at short range, this soldier manned his machine gun with telling effect upon the attacking enemy forces. Casualties within his own platoon began to mount, and, as enemy reserves continued to press the attack forward, the remaining men comenced to shows signs of panic, and a disorderly retreat became imminent. Seeing what was ahout to occur, Pfc Ebersole immediately started to rally the men, shouting epithets at the enemy and words of encouragement to his own men, keeping up an incessant stream of chatter which hat [had] a salutory effect on the men and encouraged them to continue shooting and to hold their position. With each enemy soldier that he personally felled with his machine gun, Pfc Ebersole's shout of triumph told the other men what was happening. When there was no supporting fire forthcoming to stop the enemy tanks, this soldier turned his gun over to the assistant gunner, and with complete disregard for his own safety, travelled a distance of 200 yards under a withering hail of machine gun and tank fire to contact friendly Tank Destroyers. He then led two Tank Destroyers through the darkness to firing positions, after which he returned to his own positions and continued to mow down enemy soldiers with his machine gun. The Tank Destroyers quickly knocked out three of the enemy tanks, the fourth having meanwhile been set afire by tracer bullets from the machine gun next to Ebersole's. The attack was completely stopped and the enemy withdrew after suffering exceptionally heavy casualteis. On the the morning of January 6, 1945, Pfc Ebersole again displayed distinctive courage and skill as his platoon once again successfully repelled a tank-infantry attack. This entire period was one of near zero teemperature and was fought in deep snow with more snow falling intermittently. Pfc Ebersole suffered from exposure to such an extent that he contracted trench foot and will probably lose one foot, yet he steadfastly refused all attempts to evacuate him until his platoon was relieved. Many others who took part in these same actions were evacuated as the result of exposure. This man could and should have been evacuated but he preferred to remain at his post and engage the enemy until the action was completed, regardless of the consequences to himself.
It was the result of this soldier's initiative, his unsurpassed courage and his high degree of skill that this position was successfully defended and that the enemy tanks were destroyed before they could over-run the position and effect a breakthrough which might have proven disastrous to the entire operation. Throughout the entire action he displayed conspicious gallantry and loyal devotion to duty at the risk of his life. He showed utter disregard for his own safety and welfare, in his determination to destroy the enemy, regardless of the consequences to himself. Such heroism symbolizes the finest ideals of the fighting men of the United States Infantry.
|