World War II Honoree

James H. Allan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Stephen L. Gilmore

SILVER STAR AND PURPLE HEART. INFANTRY, HEADQUARTERS, 3RD BATTALION, 377TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, ON NOVEMBER 17, 1944 IN FORT GAMBETTE, FRANCE. AFTER LEADING FIRST MACHINE GUN SQUAD INTO AN ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION AND HELPING THE DEPLETED CREW SET UP THE GUN, THEN MANNED THE GUN TO SHOOT A SNIPER WHO WAS FIRING ON THEM. THEN RETURNED THROUGH HEAVY MORTAR AND ARTILLERY FIRE TO OTHER SQUAD, WHERE HE FOUND PART OF THE CREW WOUNDED. AFTER GIVING FIRST AID AND MOVING THE WOUNDED TO SAFETY, LED THE REMAINDER INTO FORWARD POSITIONS. REFUSED TO LEAVE THE AREA BEFORE INFORMING THE COMPANY COMMANDER OF THE DISPOSITION OF WEAPONS. WHILE RETURNING TO THE REAR, STOPPED, IN SPITE OF THE DEADLY FIRE, TO ADMINISTER FIRST AID AND ASSIST AN INJURED SOLDIER TO THE BATTALION AID STATION.