GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division
General Orders No. 60 (November 30, 1944)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Woodrow W. Millsaps (ASN: 0-1303923), United States Army, for gallantry in action from 17 to 22 September 1944, in the city of ****, Holland, and within five miles of ****.
First Lieutenant Millsaps, Commanding Officer, Company B, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, led his company with exemplary courage and intrepidity during three separate engagements with a numerically superior enemy.
On 17 September the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, attacked the town of *** with two companies. The battalion reached a point within the city where strong enemy resistance was encountered. Control within the lead company was momentary lost.
First Lieutenant Millsaps retained control of his company, keeping his unit intact by means of personal contact with his platoon leaders, and led his company forward, seizing an important intermediate objective. His action enabled the lead company to reorganize and establish contact with the battalion commander. Throughout the night, First Lieutenant Millsaps traveled about in the darkness of the fire-swept town, retaining control of his company and coordinating the defense of his platoons.
On 18 September, when the 1st Battalion attacked to clear a landing zone for glider landings after this LZ had been overrun by the Germans, he conducted his company in such a swift, aggressive attack, that the company objective was promptly seized. Four 20-mm. anti-aircraft guns were destroyed and sixty Germans were captured.
While conducting the defense of an isolated roadblock at ***, Germany, on 20 September 1944, First Lieutenant Millsaps, who had only two platoons, one being detached, beat off continuous attacks by an enemy of battalion strength, reinforced by artillery, for more than twenty-four hours. The successful defense of this locality was mainly due to outstanding leadership and supervision under fire by First Lieutenant Millsaps.
When friendly tanks moving in support of his company position erroneously began firing into one of his platoon positions, First Lieutenant Millsaps, at great personal risk to himself, ran out in front of the lead tank and caused the tanks to cease firing.
The conduct of First Lieutenant Millsaps in all engagements against the enemy have been such as to inspire much confidence within his company. His devotion to duty and personal bravery have contributed much to the successful accomplishment of his company and battalions missions, and have rendered a distinguished service in the destruction of enemy resistance during this campaign.
His conduct reflects the finest traditions of the United States Army. |
