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First Lieutenant John R. Fox
598th Field Artillery Battalion, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92d Infantry Division
Background: Congressional Medal of Honor. For extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy in the
vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy on 26 December 1944, while serving as a member of Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment,
92d Infantry Division. During the preceding few weeks, Lieutenant Fox served with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion
as a forward observer. On Christmas night, enemy soldiers gradually infiltrated the town of Sommocolonia in civilian
clothes, and by early morning the town was largely in hostile hands. Commencing with a heavy barrage of enemy artillery
at 0400 hours on 26 December 1944, an organized attack by uniformed German units began. Being greatly outnumbered, most
of the United States Infantry forces were forced to withdraw from the town, but Lieutenant Fox and some other members of his
observer party voluntarily remained on the second floor of a house to direct defensive artillery fire. At 0800 hours, Lieutenant
Fox reported that the Germans were in the streets and attacking in strength. He then called for defensive artillery
fire to slow the enemy advance. As the Germans continued to press the attack towards the area that Lieutenant Fox occupied,
he adjusted the artillery fire closer to his position. Finally he was warned that the next adjustment would bring the
deadly artillery right on top of his position. After acknowledging the danger, Lieutenant Fox insisted that the last
adjustment be fired as this was the only way to defeat the attacking soldiers. Later, when a counterattack retook the
position from the Germans, Lieutenant Fox's body was found with the bodies of approximately 100 German soldiers. Lieutenant
Fox's gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, contributed greatly to delaying the enemy
advance until other infantry and artillery units could reorganize to repel the attack. His extraordinary valorous actions
were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him, his unit, and
the United States Army.
SPECIAL HERO RULES
Special Rules: Fox is Elite and never takes Morale Checks. In addition, Fox never takes Gut Checks for
any reason.
"Spotter" -- Fox gets a 2 column shift (as if he had binoculars) before any other sighting modifiers are
made.
"Call in Artillery" -- Fox may call in Artillery on any location on the board that he can spot.
He may call in Artillery on his own location without taking a Gut Check (most men would be forced to take a 1/2 Gut Check
to do so). Artillery must still be decided by scenario, or purchased using 'battle points'.
Morale: 17-1
Weapon of Choice: M-1 Carbine
S/SGT Lucian Adams
30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.
Background: Congressional Medal of Honor. Near St. Die, France, 28 October 1944. Entered service
at: Port Arthur, Tex. Birth: Port Arthur, Tex. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk
of life above and beyond the call of duty on 28 October 1944, near St. Die, France. When his company was stopped in its effort
to drive through the Mortagne Forest to reopen the supply line to the isolated third battalion, S/Sgt. Adams braved the concentrated
fire of machineguns in a lone assault on a force of German troops. Although his company had progressed less than 10 yards
and had lost 3 killed and 6 wounded, S/Sgt. Adams charged forward dodging from tree to tree firing a borrowed BAR from the
hip. Despite intense machinegun fire which the enemy directed at him and rifle grenades which struck the trees over his head
showering him with broken twigs and branches, S/Sgt. Adams made his way to within 10 yards of the closest machinegun and killed
the gunner with a hand grenade. An enemy soldier threw hand grenades at him from a position only 10 yards distant; however,
S/Sgt. Adams dispatched him with a single burst of BAR fire. Charging into the vortex of the enemy fire, he killed another
machinegunner at 15 yards range with a hand grenade and forced the surrender of 2 supporting infantrymen. Although the remainder
of the German group concentrated the full force of its automatic weapons fire in a desperate effort to knock him out, he proceeded
through the woods to find and exterminate 5 more of the enemy. Finally, when the third German machinegun opened up on him
at a range of 20 yards, S/Sgt. Adams killed the gunner with BAR fire. In the course of the action, he personally killed 9
Germans, eliminated 3 enemy machineguns, vanquished a specialized force which was armed with automatic weapons and grenade
launchers, cleared the woods of hostile elements, and reopened the severed supply lines to the assault companies of his battalion.
SPECIAL HERO RULES
Special Rules: Adams is Elite and never takes Morale Checks. In addition, Fox never takes Gut Checks for
any reason.
"Run & Gun" -- Adams can move and fire in the same action. All Op-Fire directed against Adams
has a +4 effects modifier due to his ability to dodge and weave using available cover. Adams may elect to throw a grenade
and move instead of firing and moving.
Morale: 18-2
Weapon of Choice: Bar PMG, unlimited Mark IIA1 "pinapple" Grenades.
SGT Sylvester Antolak
Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
Background: Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24 May 1944. Entered service at: St. Clairsville,
Ohio. Birth: St. Clairsville, Ohio. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he charged
200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machinegun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke
through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering
enemy machinegun, machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and knocked to the ground, but each
time he struggled to his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered,
he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachinegun wedged under his uninjured arm until
within 15 yards of the enemy strong point, where he opened fire at deadly close range, killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining
10 to surrender. He reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose to lead the way toward
another strong point 100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead
nearly three-fourths of the space between strong points when he was instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his
example, his squad went on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice, superb fighting courage, and heroic devotion
to the attack, Sgt. Antolak was directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machinegun, and clearing
the path for his company to advance.
SPECIAL HERO RULES
Special Rules: Antolak is Elite and never takes Morale Checks. In addition, Fox never takes Gut Checks
for any reason.
"Tough Son of a Gun" -- Antolak may ignore any Ltw result on the Effects Chart. He may recieve
any number of wounds and they will have no effect on him, he is effected by all other results normally.
Morale: 17-1
Weapon of Choice: Thompson SMG
Second Lieutenant, Van T. Barfoot
U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division.
Background: Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Carthage, Miss. Birth:
Edinburg, Miss. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above
and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against
forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He
crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans.
He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured
3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot.
Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing
more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly
captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka,
Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first
shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank.
As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy
terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning
to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded
men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive
determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.
SPECIAL HERO RULES
Special Rules: Barfoot is Elite and never takes Morale Checks. In addition, Fox never takes Gut Checks
for any reason.
"All Around Good Soldier" -- Barfoot is adept at performaing all the missions his army asks of him.
He is proficient with anti-tank weapons, demolition charges, and crew-served machine guns. Barfoot never recieves the
untrained use modifier for any US weapon he uses. Additionally, any Skill Checks that Barfoot is required to make recieves
a -4 bonus.
Morale: 18-2
Weapon of Choice: Thompson SMG
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