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Gerald Leon Endl

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Gerald Leon Endl Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, USA
Death
11 Jul 1944 (aged 28)
Papua New Guinea
Burial
Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, USA GPS-Latitude: 42.9098871, Longitude: -88.8503011
Plot
Lot 20, Block 9, Grave 3N
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United State Army during World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the 32nd Infantry Division. His Citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Anamo, New Guinea, on 11 July 1944. S/Sgt. Endl was at the head of the leading platoon of his company, advancing along a jungle trail, when enemy troops were encountered and a firefight developed. The enemy attacked in force under heavy rifle, machine-gun, and grenade fire. His platoon leader wounded, S/Sgt. Endl immediately assumed command and deployed his platoon on a firing line at the fork in the trail toward which the enemy attack was directed. The dense jungle terrain greatly restricted vision and movement, and he endeavored to penetrate down the trail toward an open clearing of Kunai grass. As he advanced, he detected the enemy, supported by at least 6 light and 2 heavy machine guns, attempting an enveloping movement around both flanks. His Commanding Officer sent a second platoon to move up on the left flank of the position, but the enemy closed in rapidly, placing our force in imminent danger of being isolated and annihilated. Twelve members of his platoon were wounded, 7 being cut off by the enemy. Realizing that if his platoon were forced farther back, these 7 men would be hopelessly trapped and at the mercy of a vicious enemy, he resolved to advance at all cost, knowing it meant almost certain death, in an effort to rescue his comrades. In the face of extremely heavy fire, he went forward alone and, for a period of approximately 10 minutes, engaged the enemy in a heroic close-range fight, holding them off while his men crawled forward under cover to evacuate the wounded and to withdraw. Courageously refusing to abandon 4 more wounded men who were lying along the trail, one by one he brought them back to safety. As he was carrying the last man in his arms he was struck by a heavy burst of automatic fire and was killed. By his persistent and daring self-sacrifice and on behalf of his comrades, S/Sgt. Endl made possible the successful evacuation of all but 1 man, and enabled the 2 platoons to withdraw with their wounded and to reorganize with the rest of the company." His Medal as awarded posthumously and accredited to Janesville, Wisconsin.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United State Army during World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the 32nd Infantry Division. His Citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Anamo, New Guinea, on 11 July 1944. S/Sgt. Endl was at the head of the leading platoon of his company, advancing along a jungle trail, when enemy troops were encountered and a firefight developed. The enemy attacked in force under heavy rifle, machine-gun, and grenade fire. His platoon leader wounded, S/Sgt. Endl immediately assumed command and deployed his platoon on a firing line at the fork in the trail toward which the enemy attack was directed. The dense jungle terrain greatly restricted vision and movement, and he endeavored to penetrate down the trail toward an open clearing of Kunai grass. As he advanced, he detected the enemy, supported by at least 6 light and 2 heavy machine guns, attempting an enveloping movement around both flanks. His Commanding Officer sent a second platoon to move up on the left flank of the position, but the enemy closed in rapidly, placing our force in imminent danger of being isolated and annihilated. Twelve members of his platoon were wounded, 7 being cut off by the enemy. Realizing that if his platoon were forced farther back, these 7 men would be hopelessly trapped and at the mercy of a vicious enemy, he resolved to advance at all cost, knowing it meant almost certain death, in an effort to rescue his comrades. In the face of extremely heavy fire, he went forward alone and, for a period of approximately 10 minutes, engaged the enemy in a heroic close-range fight, holding them off while his men crawled forward under cover to evacuate the wounded and to withdraw. Courageously refusing to abandon 4 more wounded men who were lying along the trail, one by one he brought them back to safety. As he was carrying the last man in his arms he was struck by a heavy burst of automatic fire and was killed. By his persistent and daring self-sacrifice and on behalf of his comrades, S/Sgt. Endl made possible the successful evacuation of all but 1 man, and enabled the 2 platoons to withdraw with their wounded and to reorganize with the rest of the company." His Medal as awarded posthumously and accredited to Janesville, Wisconsin.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith


Inscription

MEDAL OF HONOR
S SGT US ARMY
WORLD WAR II



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
  • Added: Jun 2, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7525553/gerald_leon-endl: accessed ), memorial page for Gerald Leon Endl (20 Aug 1915–11 Jul 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7525553, citing Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.