134th Infantry Regiment "All Hell Can't Stop Us"

Distinguished Service Cross Recipients

By direction of the President and under the provisions of Sec. I, Cir. 32, Hq. ETO US Army, 20 Mar. 1944, as amended by Sec. I, Cir. 56, Hq. ETO US Army, 27 May 1944, a Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to:

Private First Class BUSTER E. BROWN, 37034212, Co. L, 134th Inf., 35th Inf. Div., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy. On 16 July 1944 in the vicinity of ST. LO, NORMANDY, FRANCE, Private BROWN, engaged in action with his platoon which was being subjected to effective fire from an enemy machine gun nest, advanced alone against the enemy position and silenced it single-handedly. On 17 July 1944, Private BROWN again distinguished himself above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against the enemy with his platoon. While his entire company was under a heavy concentration of mortar, artillery and machine gun fire, Pvt. BROWN, armed with a BAR, courageously advanced alone to silence a disturbing machine gun nest. He was struck by a bullet while still 150 yards from the enemy position but, disregarding his wound, continued his lone advance firing steadily into the machine gun nest until he was once again wounded. His effective firing wiped out the enemy position. The cool-headed, calculated actions of Pvt. BROWN in the face of enemy fire; his complete disregard for his own safety, persistence against seemingly insurmountable obstacles and dogged determination resulted in facilitating the advance of his company and the saving of numerous of his comrades' lives. His courage and inspirational devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Corporal RICHARD S. BUTTERFIELD, 20721319, Medical Detachment, 134th Inf. Div., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States, on 21 July 1944 at ST. LO, NORMANDIE, FRANCE. On 21 July 1944 the 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry was occupying the town of ST. LO, NORMANDIE, FRANCE, with the Battalion CP located in a cemetery. The Medical Detachment, 1st Battalion, was situated in a mill at the NE outskirts of town. At approximately 1400, while and ambulance was being loaded adjacent to the mill, several enemy howitzer shells hit the mill and the area around the ambulance. At that particular time, Corporal RICHARD S. BUTTERFIELD, Medical NCO, was engaged in loading a shell concussion victim into the ambulance. He threw himself over the patient holding him down and protecting him with his own body. Corporal BUTTERFIELD'S gallant action; his unselfish zeal in protecting a patient, above and beyond the call of duty, resulted in the patient receiving merely some shell fragment wounds, enabling his being evacuated in good condition. Corporal BUTTERFIELD, however, as a result of his action, had his right leg blown off and the left leg badly fractured. The splendid bravery of the noncommissioned officer; his utter disregard for his own safety, merits the emblazoning of his name in the annals of the Medical Corps.

Technician Fifth Grade ALMON N. CONGER, JR., 39457112, Medical Department, Medical Detachment, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, United States Army for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations on 26 February 1945 in Germany. In the face of heavy enemy small arms fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Technician CONGER, a surgical technician, voluntarily left the comparative safety of his shelter to administer first aid to the wounded. While so engaged he was wounded in the back but despite his own wound, Technician CONGER, in order to further protect the wounded, lay between them and the grazing fire. The extraordinary heroism and courageous actions of Technician CONGER reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered military service from Washington.

Private First Class HALBERT E. OLSON, 37585303, Co. A, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations. On 26 February 1945, in Germany, Private OLSON, intending to throw a grenade in a cellar, pulled the pin, but as he commenced hurling the missile, it became entangled in his clothing, the striker hitting the primer. Instantly realizing the terrible danger to everyone near him, he plunged several paces forward and curled his body over the grenade so that he absorbed all its fragmentation and no one else was injured. He gave his life for his fellow soldiers. The extraordinary heroism and courageous action of Private OLSON reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered military service from Minnesota.

Staff Sergeant RAYMOND M. PARKER, 20361580 (then Sergeant), Co. E, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against the enemy. On 10 September 1944, Sergeant PARKER, and assistant squad leader, crossed the Moselle River, near Frolois, France, and became cut-off from his unit. Despite enemy action, he courageously organized two machine-gun squads from other men and ordered fire upon the enemy. When casualties were created in his newly-formed squads, he manned one of the guns himself until his ammunition was exhausted. After becoming a prisoner, he managed to elude his captors and escape. The aggressive leadership of Sergeant PARKER reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. Entered military service from Virginia.

Private First Class WILBUR C. PYLE, 18198599, Company C, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. On 14 November 1944, Private First Class PYLE was advancing with his company against the enemy near PEVANGE, FRANCE. When a series of defensive enemy foxholes were encountered, Private First Class PYLE unhesitatingly advanced upon them. His helmet was knocked off by an enemy bullet as he started forward but he went on without it, ignoring the heavy frontal and flanking fire laid down by the enemy. He captured three of the enemy in the first foxhole and sent them to the rear. He coolly advanced upon a second and third foxhole, throwing grenades, and capturing two more prisoners. Still advancing, he threw grenades into a fourth foxhole, killing one of the entrenched enemy and capturing another. Private First Class PYLE'S courageous determination to engage the enemy, and his conspicuous heroism and inspiring devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States.

Staff Sergeant JUNIOR J. SPURRIER, 13018254, Company G, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. On the morning of 16 September 1944, Company G, 134th Infantry, was given the mission of taking a hill south of LAY ST. CHRISTOPHER, FRANCE. This hill was known to be a strong point, the enemy being firmly entrenched in dug-outs and trenches. As the company advanced in the attack, enemy machine-guns and other automatic weapons opened fire from the right flank. Sergeant SPURRIER, Squad Leader, Company G, immediately mounted a nearby tank destroyer and manned its 50 caliber machine-gun. Advancing towards the enemy, he opened fire, killing and wounding many and causing the remainder to retreat to a dug-out. Sergeant SPURRIER then jumped off of the vehicle, advanced on the dug-out, and, throwing several hand grenades into it, killed all of its occupants. He then remounted and cleaned out a second enemy dug-out in the same manner. Again remounting the tank destroyer in spite of heavy concentrations of enemy machine-gun, mortar, and artillery fire, Sergeant SPURRIER resumed his precarious position on the vehicle, firing the 50 caliber machine-gun. In all he took 22 prisoners before reaching the summit of the hill. The extraordinary courage displayed by Sergeant SPURRIER; his outstanding heroism and supreme devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States.

Headquarters, U.S. Forces-European Theater, General Orders No. 232 (1945)

Private First Class HENRY L. ALONZO, 39712164, Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, United States Army. The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Henry L. Alonzo, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 10 March 1945. Private First Class Alonzo's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 35th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

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