Russell E. Dunham

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Russell E. Dunham
b: 23 February 1920

Place of birth East Carondelet, Illinois
Allegiance United States Army
Rank Technical sergeant
Unit Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Medal of Honor
Silver Star
Bronze Star Medal
Croix de Guerre
Purple Heart

Russell Dunham (b: 23 February 1920) is a World War II veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor. On 8 January 1945, as a member of Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, Dunham eliminated three German machine gun nests despite being injured himself.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Dunham and his brother Ralph, who also joined the United States Army, grew up on a farm in Fosterburg, Illinois[1].

[edit] Combat action on 8 January 1945

Dunham was a platoon leader in his unit. Dunham's unit became pinned down at the base of snow-covered Hill 616, a steep hill in Alsace-Lorraine near Kaysersberg, France on 8 January 1945. With machine gun fire coming down the hill in front of their unit, and a heavy artillery barrage landing behind them, Dunham decided "the only way was up"[2]. Using a white mattress cover as a camouflage aid against the backdrop of the snow, Dunham began moving up the hill. He carried with him a dozen hand grenades and a dozen clips for his M1 Carbine.

Dunham began crawling more than 100 yards to the first machine gun nest under fire from two machine guns and supporting riflemen. When 10 yards from the nest, he jumped up to assault the nest and was hit by a bullet which caused him to tumble 15 yards downhill. He got back up and charged the nest firing his carbine as he went, and kicked aside an egg grenade that had landed at his feet. Prior to reaching the nest, he tossed a hand grenade into the nest. When he got to the nest, he killed the machine gunner and his assistant. His carbine then jammed, and he jumped into the machine gun emplacement. He threw a third German in the nest down the hill who was later captured by his unit.

With his carbine jammed, he picked up another carbine from a wounded soldier and advanced on the second nest, 50 yards away. As he came within 25 yards of the nest, he lobbed two hand grenades into the nest, wiping it out. He followed this up by firing down fox holes used in support of the nest. He then began his slow advance on the third nest, 65 yards up the hill. He made his advance on the third nest under heavy automatic fire and grenades. As he came within 15 yards of the nest, he tossed more grenades and wiped out the last nest, barely being missed at point blank range by a German rifleman.

During the action, Dunham killed nine Germans, wounded seven and captured two on his own. Nearly 30 other Germans were captured as a result of his actions.

When Dunham was presented with the Medal of Honor, General Alexander Patch said as he placed the award around Dunham's neck that his actions in single-handedly destroying the machine gun nests saved the lives of 120 U.S. soldiers who had been pinned down by the machine gun nests. [3]

For his injuries on that day, Dunham also received the Purple Heart. Shrapnel from his injuries is still in his body, and Dunham is quoted as saying "The shrapnel in my leg is a reminder of the war we fought." [4]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

  • Rank: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army
  • Organization: Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
  • Place: Near Kaysersberg, France,
  • Date: 8 January 1945.
  • Entered service at: Brighton Illinois
  • Order: G.O. No.: 37, 11 May 1945.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. At about 1430 hours on 8 January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kayserberg, France, T/Sgt. Dunham single-handedly assaulted 3 enemy machineguns. Wearing a white robe made of a mattress cover, carrying 12 carbine magazines and with a dozen hand grenades snagged in his belt, suspenders, and buttonholes, T/Sgt. Dunham advanced in the attack up a snow-covered hill under fire from 2 machineguns and supporting riflemen. His platoon 35 yards behind him, T/Sgt. Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct fire toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machinegun. As he jumped to his feet 10 yards from the gun and charged forward, machinegun fire tore through his camouflage robe and a rifle bullet seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him spinning 15 yards down hill into the snow. When the indomitable sergeant sprang to his feet to renew his 1-man assault, a German egg grenade landed beside him. He kicked it aside, and as it exploded 5 yards away, shot and killed the German machinegunner and assistant gunner. His carbine empty, he jumped into the emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun crew by the collar. Although his back wound was causing him excruciating pain and blood was seeping through his white coat, T/Sgt. Dunham proceeded 50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire to attack the second machinegun. Twenty-five yards from the emplacement he hurled 2 grenades, destroying the gun and its crew; then fired down into the supporting foxholes with his carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen. Although his coat was so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a conspicuous target against the white landscape, T/Sgt. Dunham again advanced ahead of his platoon in an assault on enemy positions farther up the hill. Coming under machinegun fire from 65 yards to his front, while rifle grenades exploded 10 yards from his position, he hit the ground and crawled forward. At 15 yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered a few paces toward the timbered machinegun emplacement and killed the crew with hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range, but missed him. After killing the rifleman, T/Sgt. Dunham drove others from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire. Killing 9 Germans--wounding 7 and capturing 2--firing about 175 rounds of carbine ammunition, and expending 11 grenades, T/Sgt. Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded a spectacular and successful diversionary attack.[5]

[edit] Military awards

[edit] Later life

Dunham and his wife Wilda have lived on a small farm near Jerseyville, Illinois for 30 years [6]. He regularly attends a variety of functions related to honoring Medal of Honor recipients. Dunham erected a monument at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in honor of those who served with the 3rd Infantry Division. The monument was dedicated on 20 May 2000, and stands near Flagstaff and Rostrum Drive on the cemetery grounds. [7]. As of 2001, he still enjoyed coon hunting. [8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ande Yakstis, Alton Telegraph staff writer. World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Technical Sergeant Russell E. Dunham, US Army. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  2. ^ Ralph Kinney Bennett, Reader's Digest. The Medal of Honor - Profiles of men who've won the Medal of Honor. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  3. ^ Ande Yakstis, Alton Telegraph staff writer. Medal of Honor winner Durham cited in national magazine. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  4. ^ Judy Griffin. Medal of Honor winner Durham cited in national magazine. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  5. ^ Department of the Army. Medal of Honor citation. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  6. ^ Ralph Kinney Bennett, Reader's Digest. The Medal of Honor - Profiles of men who've won the Medal of Honor. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  7. ^ United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Burial & Memorials - Cemeteries - Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  8. ^ Ralph Kinney Bennett, Reader's Digest. The Medal of Honor - Profiles of men who've won the Medal of Honor. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
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