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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Edwin Pina, son of Charles and Mary (Pacheco) Pina, was born September 25, 1921 in Taunton, Massachusetts. He registered for the draft February 16, 1942. At the time he was working at the New Jersey Rubber Company in Taunton. He was inducted into the Army November 27, 1942 and joined Company D, 134th Infantry Regiment from the 48th Replacement Battalion August 9, 1944 serving as a Heavy Machine Gunner. He was injured in action August 19, returned to duty August 22, and was promoted to Private First Class September 21, 1944. Pfc Edwin Pina was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for heroic service November 14 and was killed in action the following day, November 15, 1944 in the vicinity of Achain, France. He is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint Avold, France.
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Bronze Star Medal Citation |
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Private First Class Edwin Pina, 31236736, Infantry, United States Army, for heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States near * * * , France on 14, November 1944. Private Pina was a member of a heavy machine gun section which, while in support of a rifle company attacking a dominant hill near * * * , advanced through direct rifle and machine gun fire to a point where effective fire could be directed against enemy positions on the crest of the hill. When this action succeeded in forcing the Germans to withdraw, Private Pina and his comrades made their way across the hilltop and, after overcoming enemy resistance by the use of hand grenades, set up their guns on the forward slope of the hill. Although this position was 150 yards ahead of the company line and subjected to intense enemy artillery, mortar and machine gun fire, as well as 88mm fire from a tank approximately two thousand yards distant, the group heroically continued at their post, enabling one platoon of the supported company to overrun several enemy emplacements and capture fifteen prisoners. When the enemy launched a counterattack and one of the guns of the section suffered a direct hit by the enemy tank, Private Pina and his companions maintained a concentration of small arms and automatic rifle fire until the German attack had been repulsed. Private Pina's unusual daring and resourcefulness and his unswerving devotion to duty reflect credit upon his character and training as a soldier. Entered military service from Massachusetts. General Orders No. 57, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 18 December 1944 |
