World War II Honoree

Hugh Barbee Mott

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Nashville, Tennessee

Honored By

Susan Mott Coles

Relationship

Daughter

COMMANDING OFFICER, 2ND PLATOON, COMPANY B, 9TH ARMORED ENGINEER BATTALION. LED ASSAULT ON LUDENDORFF RAILROAD BRIDGE, OUTSIDE TOWN OF REMAGEN, GERMANY. THIS WAS THE LAST FULLY INTACT BRIDGE ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER. EXPLOSIVES PLACED BY THE GERMAN ARMY WERE SET TO DESTROY THE BRIDGE, THUS SLOWING THE ALLIES' CROSSING OF THE RHINE. ON MARCH 7, 1945 AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 HOURS, LIEUTENANT MOTT, ASSISTED BY TWO SERGEANTS, CHARGED THE BRIDGE AND CUT DEMOLITION WIRES, THUS PREVENTING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE STOOD 10 DAYS AFTER THIS, ENOUGH TIME FOR THE ENGINEERS TO BUILD A PONTOON BRIDGE SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF THE LUDENDORFF RAILROAD BRIDGE. FOR HIS ACT OF HEROISM IN SAVING THIS BRIDGE, HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.