Archer T. Gammon-Danville, VA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 36° 34.908 W 079° 24.846
17S E 641881 N 4049652
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient for action near Bastogne, Belgium on January 11, 1945. He was killed in action. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Danville VA in Section 1, Lot 158.
Waymark Code: WMWZ8J
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 11/03/2017
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He was born on September 11, 1918 in Chatham, VA and died on January 11, 1945 in Bastogne, Belgium. His Medal of Honor citation and information is: *GAMMON, ARCHER T.
• Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division
• Place and date: Near Bastogne, Belgium, 11 January 1945
• Entered service at: Roanoke, Va.
• G.O. No.: 18, 13 February 1946
Citation: He charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow to knock out a machinegun and its 3-man crew with grenades, saving his platoon from being decimated and allowing it to continue its advance from an open field into some nearby woods. The platoon's advance through the woods had only begun when a machinegun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent 88mm. shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. S/Sgt. Gammon, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the left, crossing the width of the platoon's skirmish line in an attempt to get within grenade range of the tank and its protecting foot troops. Intense fire was concentrated on him by riflemen and the machinegun emplaced near the tank. He charged the automatic weapon, wiped out its crew of 4 with grenades, and, with supreme daring, advanced to within 25 yards of the armored vehicle, killing 2 hostile infantrymen with rifle fire as he moved forward. The tank had started to withdraw, backing a short distance, then firing, backing some more, and then stopping to blast out another round, when the man whose single-handed relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and instantly killed by a direct hit from the Tiger Royal's heavy gun. By his intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no matter what the odds, S/Sgt. Gammon cleared the woods of German forces, for the tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad leader's platoon.
Armed Service: Army
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