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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Merence Joseph Michaels, son of August and Rose Michaels, was born January 29, 1917 in Nahma, Michigan. He and his wife Cecile had 2 daughters, Kathryn and Sarah who died in early childhood. He registered for the draft October 16, 1940, was inducted into the Army June 4, 1941 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and served in Company C, 137th Infantry Regiment. He landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy France July 7, 1944 and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge August 1, 1944. He was promoted to Sergeant, Squad Leader August 8 and again promoted to Staff Sergeant August 21, 1944. During a battle just east of Nancy, France, S/Sgt Merence J Michaels suffered a gunshot wound on September 17 and died of his wounds 2 days later, September 19, 1944. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for heroic action during the battle in which he was fatally wounded. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Manistique, Michigan
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Bronze Star Medal Citation |
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Staff Sergeant Merence J Michaels, 36211799, Infantry, United States Army, for heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States in the vicinity of * * * , France, 17 September 1944. After the First Battalion, 137th Infantry, had taken Nancy, France, it prepared to establish defensive positions on its eastern outskirts. When only a part of Sergeant Michaels' platoon had reached the defense area, and before it had an opportunity to dig in, two companies of enemy infantry led by tanks counterattacked. Unsupported by fire of any type, and despite the superior enemy force strengthened with machine gun and tank fire, Sergeant Michaels and eleven comrades stood their ground and fired upon the enemy, causing numerous casualties in its ranks. So courageous and daring was the action of Sergeant Michaels and his comrades, that the enemy counterattack was checked, and when assistance arrived for that small group, the counterattack was repulsed, the enemy was driven from the high ground it had retaken, and the defense of the town made secure. The courage, disregard for personal safety and tenacity of purpose displayed by Sergeant Michaels reflect credit upon his character as a soldier. Entered military service from Wisconsin. General Orders No. 44, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 16 October 1944 |
