World War II Honoree

Henry Westphal

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cushing, Iowa

Honored By

Cushing American Legion

SERVED IN 36TH COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, 5TH ARMY, ITALY. SHOT IT OUT WITH 4 GERMAN TANKS DURING THE ENTRANCE INTO ROME. THE MORNING THE INFANTRY TOOK ROME, THEY WERE SENT ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION TO THE SOUTH BANKS OF THE TIBER RIVER. HE WAS THE DRIVER OF THE JEEP WITH THE CAPTAIN AS RIDER. THEY DROVE INTO 4 GERMAN TANKS (MARK IV). THE TANK MEN CUT LOOSE WITH THEIR GUNS AND THE SOLDIERS DOVE DOWN INTO A DITCH. HE CAUGHT A SLUG IN THE SHOULDER AFTER THEY USED UP THEIR OWN AMMUNITION AND SURRENDERED. ASKED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HONOREE AND WERE TOLD TO GET BACK IN THEIR JEEP WITH 3 GERMAN GUARDS. ON THEIR WAY TO THE CITY, THEY DROVE INTO A TUNNEL. COMING OUT OF THE TUNNEL, THERE WERE THE AMERICANS WHO CUT OFF THE GERMAN TROOPS, THEY GOT THE GERMANS WITH THE TANKS TO SURRENDER. THE GERMANS GAVE UP IMMEDIATELY. THE 12 ENEMY SOLDIERS IN THE TANKS WERE HERDED TO THE PRISONER ENCLOSURE. HIS WOUND TO THE SHOULDER WAS SLIGHT.