World War II Honoree

Walter C. Wetzel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Huntington, West Virginia

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, 13TH INFANTRY, 8TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: BIRKEN, GERMANY, APRIL 3, 1945. ENTERED SERVICE AT ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN. BIRTH: HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA. GO 21, FEBRUARY 26, 1946. CITATION: 'PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WETZEL, AN ACTING SQUAD LEADER WITH THE ANTITANK COMPANY OF THE 13TH INFANTRY, WAS GUARDING HIS PLATOON'S COMMAND POST IN A HOUSE AT BIRKEN, GERMANY, DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF APRIL 3, 1945, WHEN HE DETECTED STRONG ENEMY FORCES MOVING IN TO ATTACK. HE RAN INTO THE HOUSE, ALERTED THE OCCUPANTS AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN DEFENDING THE POST AGAINST HEAVY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE COMING FROM THE HOSTILE TROOPS. UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS THE GERMANS FORCED THEIR WAY CLOSE TO THE BUILDING WHERE THEY HURLED GRENADES, 2 OF WHICH LANDED IN THE ROOM WHERE PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WETZEL AND THE OTHERS HAD TAKEN UP FIRING POSITIONS. SHOUTING A WARNING TO HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WETZEL THREW HIMSELF ON THE GRENADES AND AS THEY EXPLODED, ABSORBED THEIR ENTIRE BLAST, SUFFERING WOUNDS FROM WHICH HE DIED. THE SUPREME GALLANTRY OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WETZEL SAVED HIS COMRADES FROM DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THE DEFENSE OF THE COMMAND POST AND BREAK THE POWER OF A DANGEROUS LOCAL COUNTERTHRUST BY THE ENEMY. HIS UNHESITATING SACRIFICE OF HIS LIFE WAS IN KEEPING WITH THE U.S. ARMY'S HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF BRAVERY AND HEROISM.'