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CITATION: GO 60, 20 December 1944 (page 9) - Posthumous Award
ROBERT Z. SHERWOOD, 31373469, Private, 508th Parachute Infantry.
For gallantry in action on 22 September. 1944, near ***,
HOLLAND.
Private SHERWOOD was a machine gunner with Company
"H", 508th Parachute Infantry. On the night of 22
September 1944, Company "H" attacked the strongly held town of ***,
HOLLAND, and after fierce fighting succeeded in penetrating the
outer defenses of this position. While this company was still
fighting its way forward, the enemy, supported by mortars, made a
counterattack and checked the company advance. Before the
attacking company could continue effectively it was necessary
to withdraw and reorganize. for much control had been lost in the
darkness. Private SHERWOOD placed his machine gun in a
position from which he could deliver fire across the front of the
counterattacking Germans. He was able to place such effective fire
that the enemy advance was stopped momentarily and valuable time was
gained for the reorganization of the company. Heavy enemy
automatic weapons fire was concentrated upon Private SHERWOOD's
position, which he continued to defend. A small party of at
least three enemy attempted to assault this position with grenades
but was destroyed by the accurate fire delivered by Private
SHERWOOD. When other attempts to to destroy this position by
infiltration had failed, the enemy withdrew and placed mortar fire
which killed Private SHERWOOD. Entered military service from
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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