Harold O. Messerschmidt
Military Person
1923 – 1944
Who was Harold O. Messerschmidt?
Harold O. Messerschmidt was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Messerschmidt joined the Army from Chester, Pennsylvania in May 1943, and by September 17, 1944 was serving as a Sergeant in Company L, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. During a German attack on that day, near Radden, France, he led and encouraged his men until everyone in his unit had been killed or wounded. Ignoring his own wounds, he continued to fight the enemy force alone in hand to hand combat until he was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on July 17, 1946.
Messerschmidt, aged 20 or 21 at his death, was buried in Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Barnesville, Pennsylvania.
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- Born
- 1923
Grier City, Pennsylvania - Also known as
- Harold Messerschmidt
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Died
- Sep 17, 1944
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
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"Harold O. Messerschmidt." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/harold_o_messerschmidt>.
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