HEADQUARTERS COMPANY G
APO 230 U.S. ARMY
11 August 44
SUBJECT Battlefield appointment as Second Lieutenant, AUS
TO: Commanding General, Ninth Army, APO 339 (Thru Channels)
1. Under the provisions of Circ. 59, Hqs. ETOUSA, 1 June 44,
it is recommended that the following individual, having clearly
demonstrated his fitness for appointment by outstanding performance in actual combat, be appointed as Second Lieutenant
AUS.
A. Daune W. Morris 35398054 Sgt.
2. This Individual has clearly demonstrated his fitness for
appointment by outstanding performance in actual combat as
follows:
On 6 June 44 after the completion of a combat parachute
drop in the vicinity of Blosville, Normandy, Sgt. Morris
assembled a force of thirty men of Company H and in the absence of any officers, organised [sic] them into a rifle platoon
and assumed command, notwithstanding the fact that the platoon
included non-commissioned officers of higher grade. Sgt.
Morris oriented himself and the platoon and set out for the pre-designated battalion assembly area in the vicinity of
Etienville, a distance of about eight miles. During the
course of the day, his platoon had numerous encounters with
disorganized enemy forces but he maintained the organization
of the platoon and continued on his mission until reaching a
point on the Merderet River at Chef du Pont where enemy resistance made it impossible for him to continue on. At that point he
organized his platoon on the defense and by patrols made
contact with another provisional platoon of H Company under
my command.
On June 10th, the company participated in a battalion
attack on the town of La Porte and throughout the action,
Sgt. Morris demonstrated a high degree of initiative and
aggressiveness and succeeding in his platoon mission against
a superior enemy force.
On June 20th, during the attack on Pretot, the officer
assigned to Sgt. Morris' platoon became a casualty and again
he assumed command and continued the attack into the town.
There he organized his platoon into a defensive position and
aided materially in making it possible for the company to hold
the objective.
On July 3rd during the attack on La Dauderie, the company
attacking as a frontline company, came under heavy flanking
fire from enemy machine guns which inflicted numerous casualties and threatened to stop the company advance. Sgt. Morris
in command of the left leading platoon, without order from
the company commander, maneuvered his platoon rapidly and
aggressively into a position to neutralize the enemy fire to
such an extent that the company was able to continue the advance in its sector.
On July 4th during the attack on La Poterie Ridge, the
company was stopped by intense enemy small arms, mortar and
artillery fire and forced to withdraw after suffering numerous
casualties. Altho [sic] wounded himself, Sgt. Morris continued to
direct the withdrawal of his platoon and remained behind after
his platoon had cleared until evacuated by aid men.
Throughout
this operation, Sgt. Morris, by his courage, cool-headedness
and initiative, was an inspiration to his men and through his
actions, his platoon was able to effect a withdrawal with
minimum casualties. For his part in the operation, Sgt.
Morris was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action
and the Purple Heart for wounds received.
Throughout the training period prior to the combat
operation, and during all phases of the operation, Sgt. Morris
demonstrated a high degree of judgment and initiative and
earned the respect of both men and officers with whom he worked.
RUSSELL C. WILDE
1st Lt. Inf.
Commanding.
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