World War II Honoree

Melvin O. Handrich

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Manawa, Wisconsin

Honored By

Mr. Clarence H. Mittelstaedt

Relationship

Nephew

ENTERED SERVICE AT MANAWA, WISCONSIN, GO 60, AUGUST 19, 1942. MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION, DISTINGUISHED BY CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY IN ACTION. COMPANY WAS ENGAGED IN REPULSING AN ESTIMATED 150 ENEMY WHO WERE THREATENING TO OVERRUN ITS POSITION. DESPITE THE HEAVY ENEMY FIRE HE VOLUNTARILY LEFT THE COMPARATIVE SAFETY OF THE DEFENSIVE AREA AND MOVED TO A FORWARD POSITION WHERE HE COULD DIRECT MORTAR AND ARTILLERY FIRE UPON THE ADVANCING ENEMY. REMAINED AT POST FOR 8 HOURS DIRECTING FIRE AGAINST THE ENEMY. CONFRONTED FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO OVERRUN COMPANY'S POSITION BY ENEMY. MADE HIS WAY ACROSS TERRAIN TO DEFENSE AREA WHERE HE REORGANIZED MEN TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT. HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED BUT STILL CONTINUED TO DIRECT THE COMPANY'S FIRE. LATER, A DETERMINED ENEMY ATTACK OVERRAN HIS POSITION AND HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED. WHEN POSITION WAS RETAKEN, OVER 70 ENEMY DEAD WERE COUNTED IN THE AREA HE HAD DEFENDED.