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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Captain Sidney K. Strong was born November 4, 1916 in St. Ignatius, Montana. He trained with the 35th Infantry Division in the United States and England and landed on Omaha Beach July 7, 1944. As a First Lieutenant, he received the Silver Star a week later, July 13, 1944, for heroic leadership in the hedgerows of Normandy. Fighting from St. Lo to Hillsprich, France, he was made commander of Company A on August 17, 1944 and was promoted to Captain September 27, 1944. He was killed by German fire at Hillsprich on November 23, 1944 and was posthumously awarded a second Silver Star for "his intrepid bravery, outstanding leadership, coolness and quick-thinking under fire". He is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery at St. Avold, France, Plot J Row 38, Grave 34.
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Silver Star Medal |
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First Lieutenant Sidney K. Strong O440501, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action near * * * Normandy, France, on 13 July 1944. Lieutenant Strong performed his duties as company executive officer in the action against * * * in an outstanding manner. In addition, on 13 July when his organization had become weakened by casualties he organized a provisional platoon and successfully led it in an assault where previous attacks had failed. The attack was made over fields covered by enemy machine gun fire from emplacements in hedgerows. On two occasions during the attack when his platoon was held down by enemy fire, Lieutenant Strong, at the risk of his own life, moved in exposed positions to points where he could locate the enemy fire and point out the enemy positions as targets for his own troops. His courage and leadership resulted in the successful assault by his platoon, and in the disposition of five enemy machine gun emplacements, the killing of eight and the capture of twelve enemy, and the capture of substantial amounts of enemy equipment including six machine guns, three mortars and several chests of ammunition. His subsequent sound organization of the ground and emplacement of his platoon enabled him to successfully repulse an enemy counterattack and enable the remainder of his company to move forward in the attack. The courage, skill and leadership in battle of Lieutenant Strong reflects high credit upon the military service. Entered military service from Montana. General Orders No. 16, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 8 August 1944 |
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Silver Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster |
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Captain Sidney K. Strong, O440501, Infantry,
United States Army, for gallantry in action at Hilsprich, France, on 15 November
1944. Captain Strong, commanding Company A, 137th Infantry, led his
unit in close support of Company C troops who were mounted on tanks, in an
attack against the enemy in the vicinity of Hilsprich. Captain Strong made his
way to the side of the Company C Commander who had been wounded by a sniper, and
killed the sniper with rifle fire. Despite heavy enemy fire, he reorganized
Company C, designated platoon leaders to replace those who had become
casualties, and deployed the company against strong points within the village of
Hilsprich. Returning to his own company, he reorganized his troops and led them
in an attack upon the village, after first directing artillery fire upon enemy
armor with success. He directed the fire and movement of both A and C companies
in a house-to-house fight in the sniper-infested village. He made his way
across thirty yards of open terrain to administer first aid to two wounded
soldiers and, evacuated first one and then the other to positions of safety,
then returned to lead the two companies in a final drive which resulted in the
capture of the village. He was killed in a subsequent action against the
enemy. His intrepid bravery, outstanding leadership, coolness and
quick-thinking under fire have won for him a permanent place in the annals of
fighting infantrymen, and reflect credit upon his character as an officer and
leader of men. Entered military service from Montana. General Orders No. 55, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 5 December 1944 |
 Purple Heart Medal |
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Wounded in Action 13 August 1944 General Orders No. 55, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 5 December 1944 |
