Above and beyond

Reflections on the Medal of Honor

Apr 10, 2024

When I was writing “Tanks for the Memories,” in 1993, I sent a draft of the manuscript to Les O’Riley. Les was the secretary of the 712th Tank Battalion Association. He was the executive officer in Headquarters Company and at various points filled in as the company commander of A Company, B Company and Service Company; stayed in the service and retired as a colonel. I never did a full interview with him and have only snippets of conversations in which he took part. And I have a letter he wrote after I sent him the manuscript.

Medal of Honor Day was March 25, and the fact that it came and went with me being unaware of it got me to thinking about something Les said in that letter about medals. He said it better than I can.

30 May, 1993
Dear Aaron,
I have read your draft manuscript several times since it arrived and each time I go through the stories I plan to write. Each time something happens and I later scrap my efforts. Hopefully, this will make the mail.
I'm beginning a draft of the next newsletter, or more accurately, I'm about to write from my notes what was lost this weekend in the word processor. Those things happen, particularly when you have grandchildren who are computer wise for playing games but don't understand what the "Save" means when it gets on the screen.
I have had many thoughts about these stories, and my mail brings me copies of several newsletters from other organizations; some of them have a corner for short stories of actions by members of WWII units. Some recount stories of events which were very much in disobedience of regulations and are much more appealing for that purpose. I remember a standard comment of the "Rainbow Division," which sent out a six-man detail; two shooting-two looting and two painting them damned rainbows on everything. I remember in Dillingen, Germany, when we had crossed the Saar River and were fighting to hold our part of town, a couple of 90th Division men had set up their machine gun alongside a building at a place on the sidewalk where a grill covered the vent to basement windows. While one watched down the street, the other was typing a letter on a typewriter he had "borrowed" from the building.
The Army was full of characters like those pictured by Bill Mauldin's "Willie & Joe." I'm sure we all did our best to rebel against the system just enough to register our resentment.
All these stories make good reading, for they bring back to us so many incidents which were ridiculous enough to be good therapy for the tensions of war. Only when you're bereft of a sense of humor and certainly when you can't laugh at your mistakes, are you nearing the breaking point. And heroes are those who are just compelled by their obsessive nature to do the damned fool things they'd never do if they had time to consider the possible outcomes.
Speaking of "heroes" -- every GI in WWII that served in the 712th had at some time an opportunity to do something which was a bit more than that required by "normal duty." As we used to say, "That ain't within my M.O.S. (job description)." This laughingly was our response to doing things that tankers aren't supposed to do.
Valorous action became so commonplace that we all knew that three things were necessary for an award for bravery. 1) the opportunity to do something beyond the normal call of duty, 2) somebody to see you do it and report your actions, 3) somebody at headquarters who could "write it up." Sadly, the third thing was not always available. Often the second thing was lost when witnesses became casualties.
Some men were embarrassed by being given a citation for some action when they could point out others who had done more heroic things and had done them often. In the same vein of thought, it's degrading to the system to be cited for bravery for an action which in your own opinion was far less dangerous and far less demanding of you personally than other actions which went unnoticed, unreported and unrewarded. So many of these things will never be told by the men because they personally feel that this [would] be a lot of unjustified bragging.
One of our recent losses used to get together with me at reunions and other times and we'd laugh about his guard duty in Normandy when a noise in front of his outpost raised thoughts of a German patrol, and he blasted a herd of grazing sheep. The evidence was there at daylight. The patrol was reported and went into the log book. He didn't want to be remembered for that action. Neither did his company exec who reported the patrol. And that's my war story.
Thanks for the manuscript,
Les

In the stories I’ve recorded, I’ve interviewed one Medal of Honor recipient, John “Bud” Hawk of the 90th Infantry Division; and I’ve come across at least four people who deserved the Medal of Honor but were denied. Lieutenant Jim Flowers of the 712th Tank Battalion was recommended for one but was given the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor, instead. Sergeant Pete DeVries of the 82nd Airborne Division was put in for one but due to an unfortunate incident after the cessation of hostilities, was given a Silver Star, which was later upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. Lieutenant Stanley Krivik, a B-24 pilot on the Kassel Mission, saved the lives of several crew members after crash-landing, and was given a Soldier’s Medal for heroism in a non-combat situation (it surely was the result of a combat situation, but despite the ferocity of the battle, very few medals were given out, and I’m sure there were many acts of valor that, as Les O’Riley pointed out, went unreported because the witnesses became casualties themselves). And in the Korean War, Marine Sergeant Mathew Caruso, after whom a chapel at Camp Pendleton is named, saved the life of a chaplain at the cost of his own during the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir.

As he lay in a hospital bed, Jim Flowers was asked to write an account of the circumstances that led to the 90th Infantry Division recommending him for the Medal of Honor. Jim never mentioned this document, but a copy was given to me by the family of Corporal Jim Rothschadl, Flowers’ gunner, who, along with Flowers, lay out in no man’s land for two nights after their tank was knocked out. Even though Flowers’ platoon lost all four tanks that took part in the battle, his actions were considered a significant part of breaking what had been a 10-day battle for the Foret de Mont Castre, also known as Hill 122.

My platoon was composed of the most courageous men on earth.

(This is the statement Jim Flowers’ wrote when he was recommended for the Medal of Honor. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.)
Saturday, 19 January, 1946. Colonel Robert L. Bacon, Headquarters, 8th Service Command, Dallas, Texas.
Dear Colonel Bacon,
In compliance with your request, I submit for your information an account of the action in which I was wounded. It was on 10 July, 1944, while I was attached to the First Battalion, 359th Infantry, that I was told that the Third Battalion, 358th Infantry, was surrounded by a strong force of SS paratroopers in the Foret de Mont Castre.
This information was brought to me by Lt. Harlo J. Sheppard, who was motor maintenance officer of Company C, 712th Tank Battalion. Since the First Battalion, 359th Infantry, was on its objective and I was eager to engage the paratroopers, I went immediately to Captain Leroy Pond, C.O. of the First Battalion, to ask permission to go to the assistance of the Third Battalion, 358th Infantry. He gave permission but requested that I return to his command as soon as possible.
I went back to my tanks and called the tank commanders together, giving them the information I had received, and told them of my plan to reach the encircled infantry battalion.
After instructing the platoon sergeant, Staff Sergeant Abraham I. Taylor, to meet me at a designated place on Hill 122, I got in a quarter-ton truck with Lieutenant Sheppard and went to the Foret de Mont Castre to make a personal reconnaissance of the situation.
When Staff Sergeant Taylor arrived on Hill 122 with the tanks, I called the tank commanders together to give them orders for breaking through the enemy line. Lieutenant Sheppard volunteered to command one of the tanks in the attack. I placed him in the No. 4 tank. I then got in my tank and led the assault upon the enemy position.
Encountering only small arms fire, I had no difficulty in destroying the enemy and reaching the position of the Third Battalion, 358th Infantry. Upon my arrival at the Third Battalion O.P., I reported to Lieutenant Colonel Jacob W. Bealke, C.O. of the Third Battalion. Colonel Bealke and I immediately made plans for launching an attack upon the remainder of the paratroop forces in the Foret de Mont Castre.
From the interrogation of eight captives, we learned that our enemy was the 15th Regiment of the Fifth SS Paratroop Division.* This regiment had been in the line only two days.
In the assault wave were one company of infantry and the first platoon, Company C, 712th Tank Battalion. My tanks were deployed in line, with riflemen in line between the tanks. Enemy resistance was fierce, and the thick underbrush made the infantry advance extremely hazardous and slow. My four tanks were soon almost alone in the attack. We overran many enemy machine gun positions, killing the crews.
On reaching the hard surface road at the edge of the Foret de Mont Castre, which was the objective, I made a rapid estimate of the situation and saw that it was possible to continue the attack and assault the enemy positions in a hedgerow approximately 800 yards to my front.
I gave the order over the radio to continue the attack and destroy the enemy. Leading my platoon across the road and into the open field, we were successful in destroying many machine gun nests and in killing large numbers of paratroopers. Enemy resistance was broken by our vicious assault.
Continuing the assault to the enemy positions in the hedgerow, we quickly neutralized their firepower. During the entire action in the open field, we were subjected to terrific bombardment from artillery and mortars.
Three tanks arrived at the hedgerow without casualties. The tank commanded by Lieutenant Sheppard became stuck in a marsh almost immediately after crossing the hard surface road. Lieutenant Sheppard reported this to me at once, and I told him to give supporting fire. From that position, Lieutenant Sheppard was able to support my advance by firing ahead of me. He did this despite the artillery and mortar fire falling all around him. His turret hatch covers were open all the time, as were those in the other three tanks. The purpose of open turrets was to enable the tank commanders to better observe and to fire the machine guns mounted on top of the turrets.
Lieutenant Sheppard did an excellent job commanding the tank and directing its fire. The fight from the tanks at the hedgerow was devastating on the paratroopers. I did not continue the attack from this position because I didn’t have adequate infantry support, and I estimated my position to be about on line with the Third Battalion, 359th Infantry, on my right flank. I did not know exactly where the Third Battalion, 359th Infantry, was located, and I did not want to advance too far and risk getting cut off from friendly forces.
All was in our favor in this position. I was waiting for Colonel Bealke to bring his infantry up to occupy the excellent positions I had taken.
Then, suddenly, an anti-tank gun opened fire on me from my left front. It fired only one round at my tank, which bounced off the left sponson.
Immediately, I transmitted to the other tanks to search for A.T. guns. While I was searching for the gun that had fired at me, an A.T. gun on my right flank opened fire on my tank. The first round pierced the tank through the right sponson and came through a 75-millimeter ammunition rack, igniting the powder.
Because of the intense heat and fire, I gave the order to abandon tank. I assisted my gunner, Corporal Rothschadl, in getting out. I went under the 75-millimeter gun to get my loader, Pfc. Dzienis, but was unable to locate his body. The tank was a huge ball of fire, with flames leaping out the turret several feet into the air.
Subconsciously, I knew that I had been hit. Not until I had crawled to the top of the turret and jumped to the ground, did I realize that my right foot was gone.
My first concern was for the safety of my crew. I called for my driver, T-4 [Horace] Gary. He came at once and said neither he nor the bow gunner, Pfc. [Gerald] Kiballa, were wounded.
With assistance from Gary, I was able to get over the hedgerow to my right flank. It was necessary to get out of the field where the tank was burning because of the great danger of exploding gasoline.
While my crew and I were abandoning our burning tank and getting over the hedgerow, the enemy A.T. guns destroyed the remaining tanks.
Using my belt as a tourniquet around my right leg, I was able to stop the spurting of blood from the severed artery. The German paratroops seized this opportunity to attack us. Despite severe burns to my hands and face and the loss of my right foot, I was fortunately able to organize a defense among the few surviving tankmen and infantrymen. We fought the paratroops with any weapon in our possession. Tommy guns, rifles, carbines, knives and fists were used to kill them. When my own tommy gun was out of ammunition, I had to use a knife on one paratrooper who was choking a wounded infantryman.
Most of my small force was killed or wounded in a short time. Realizing that Colonel Bealke couldn’t get to me in time, I ordered a withdrawal. I ordered those men not seriously wounded to assist the seriously wounded in getting back to the infantry line. In my opinion, every man who could walk and see left the field. I also requested that an aid man and three litter teams be sent to me as soon as possible. An infantryman who had been shot in both legs, my gunner, who was horribly burned, and I remained in a small field adjacent to my tanks.
I can’t imagine why those SS paratroopers didn’t jump over the hedgerow and kill the three of us. The only plausible explanation in my opinion is that they thought we were already dead or would die very soon.
Several hours later, a German aid man did come over and look at us. He did nothing for the infantryman. He bandaged Corporal Rothschadl’s hands. He looked at my right leg and checked the belt I was using as a tourniquet, then he bandaged my hands. That was all. I asked him to give us water, but he refused.
The next day, 11 July, very early in the morning I heard men walking along the other side of the hedgerow. I thought it must be the aid man and the litter teams. I called out to them but received no reply. Sensing that it was an enemy patrol, I secured a tommy gun and two magazines which were nearby. I rolled over to the hedgerow and crawled on top of it. I saw several German soldiers walking away from me toward the American line. Becoming enraged, I emptied both magazines in their direction. I don’t know whether I killed any of them. They disappeared at once, probably thinking it was an American patrol firing at them. I didn’t see them again.
Later in the morning, a German force of about one platoon came into my field and dug in. They didn’t bother the three of us who lay there wounded.
They had already finished digging in when our own artillery opened fire on this field. The German artillery is good, but ours is much better. Countless numbers of shells fell in that area. At times I was deafened by the explosions and covered with dirt.
The Germans were terrified in their holes, as were we three Americans on top of the ground. We were almost paralyzed with fear.
Several Germans were killed and wounded in the barrage, which lasted for what seemed hours. My gunner didn’t get hit. A shell landed between the infantryman and me, which hit both of us. One shell fragment hit my left leg, knocking it off about seven inches below the knee. Other pieces of fragment hit me in both legs above the knees and in the back.
I immediately tied my belt around my left leg as a tourniquet. The infantryman called to me that he had been hit. I crawled to him and saw blood spurting out of his right leg. Taking his belt, I used it as a tourniquet. Because of my burned hands and German bandages, I was unable to twist it tight enough. With his helping me turn the stick, I was able to stop the bleeding. I tore his clothes off as best I could to look for further wounds. He had been hit in several places on the right side. I had no first aid kit, therefore I was unable to do more for him except to bandage him with strips torn from his shirt and pants leg. When I had finished with him, he was apparently resting as well as could be expected. There was no excessive amount of blood lost.
During the rest of that day, I maintained close watch on both our tourniquets. The artillery fired a few volleys every hour for the rest of the day. It was HELL!
Sometime after noon of the next day, 12 July, the infantryman told me he was getting to die. He said that our infantry would never attack through our field and find us. I knew that if he continued to feel that way he would surely die. I assured him that our men would find us, and soon. I used every argument I could think of to persuade him to want to live. For a while I was successful. Later he said that he was dying. I tried everything again. I begged him. I bullied him. I pleaded with him. But I failed. I was holding him in my arms, praying to God to not let him die, when he took his last breath. I was heartbroken to lose him and I, too, wondered if our men would ever find us. Again I asked Him our creator to send aid. No man can know the HELL of losing both feet and wondering if his men will find him in time to save his life until he experiences the things I did in that field.
About an hour after the infantryman had died, I heard small arms fire near my position. I knew that it was our men making an attack. In a few minutes, our infantry came over the hedgerow chasing the German paratroopers. The first man I saw was Lieutenant Claude H. Lovett of the 357th Infantry. I called to him, and he came to me. He gave me a canteen of water and left one man with me until a litter team came to evacuate Corporal Rothschadl and me. I knew then that we were safe again.
In closing, I want to emphasize that my platoon was composed of the most courageous men on earth. They fought and died valiantly. I admired and respected each of them. Without their aid and willingness to follow me anywhere at any time, I could not have accomplished the missions which I understood. To the enlisted men of my platoon goes all the credit for my success as a soldier.
Respectfully yours, James F. Flowers

*The 5th Fallschirmjager (paratrooper) Division was a Luftwaffe unit, and not a part of the SS

Next: More on the Medal of Honor

World War II Oral History

Discussion about this post