Sergeant Charles E. Mower
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
A Company, 34th Infantry Regiment
Near Capoocan, Leyte
Sergeant Mower, an assistant squad leader, was
participating in an attack against a strongly defended Japanese
position which was situated along both sides of a stream that ran
through a wooded gulch. As the squad moved forward through intense
enemy fire, the squad leader was killed and Sergeant Mower took
charge. He led his men across the stream, but was severely wounded
before making it all the way. After halting his unit, he realized
that his exposed position was the best place from which to direct
the attack and he stood fast. Gravely wounded and lying half
submerged in the stream, he refused to seek cover or to accept aid
of any kind. Shouting and signaling instructions to his squad, he
directed them in the destruction of two enemy machineguns and the
killing of of numerous enemy rifleman. The remaining Japanese
concentrated their fire at Sergeant Mower, who was killed while
still directing his men forward.
Link: Charles E. Mower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia