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Two officers and two enlisted men of the 142nd Infantry Regiment recently received the Nation’s second highest battle award — the Distinguished Service Cross. 1st Lt. RAYMOND T. LAHAR, Newport, Vermont, Company K, received his DSC for extraordinary heroism in action on 9 November 1944, rear Vanemont France. While leading an assault force in an attack on a stubbornly defended enemy held hill, Lt. Lahar led his men in destroying the hostile outposts. By executing a brilliant outflanking maneuver, he took [the] enemy force completely by surprise and inflicted heavy casualties. When the enemy moved up reinforcements and infiltrated back into their original positions, Lt Lahar, with complete disregard for his personal safety, made a lone reconnaissance of the enemy positions. Although he was severely wounded in both legs by hostile automatic weapons fire, he ordered a litter to be built and continued to command his group. Several hours later contact was reestablished with another friendly unit and the patrol was saved. 2nd Lt. EUGENE M. PERRY JR., Wauwatosa, Wis., Company E, received his award for extraordinary heroism in action on 5 November 1944 in the vicinity of LaPanges, France. While leading his platoon in an assault on a strongly defended enemy road block, Lt. Perry was suddenly subjected to intense enemy small arms; and MG fire which halted the platoon’s advance. Immediatly deploying the platoon, Lt. Perry crawled forward alone, through withering fire, to within a short distance of an enemy MG position, Then, with well aimed rifle fire, he destroyed the gunner and silenced the enemy gun. Suddenly, a second MG opened file, wounding him in the head. Despite his wound, he fearlessly charged the position, firing as he ran and forcing tie enemy to abandon their weapon. By his heroic actions, Lt. Perry disorganized the enemy’s company to successfully seize the enemy road block. T/Sgt. BERNARD P. BELL, Columbiana, Ala., Company I, received his DSC for extraordinary heroism in action on 5 December 1944, in Selestat, France. While leading his platoon in an attack to drive the Germans from well fortified positions, the platoon was subjected to heavy MG and rifle fire from a building 100 yards away. Ordering his men to cover his advance, Sgt. Bell fearlessly dashed through a hail of enemy fire and reached the German stronghold. Kicking a door open, he fired his carbine several times, shouting to the Germans to surrender. Overwelmed by his audacious action, ten enemy soldiers dropped their weapons and filed out of the building. Sgt. Bell then continued the attack toward a large factory and, by a brilliant flanking maneuver, destroyed singlehanded an enemy position which served as an outpost for the factory, thus enabling the platoon to successfully seize the factory, thus enabling the platoon to successfully seize the factory, capturing 85 of the enemy and forcing the remainder to withdraw in disorder. Pfc. BUREN A. MARSHALL, Morganfield, Ky., Company C, (Missing In Action) was awarded his DSC for extraordinary heroism in action on 25 September 1944, in France. When a large hostile force launched a savage counterattack and threatened to surround his platoon, necessitating its withdrawal across an exposed clearing, Pfc. Marshall remained in position to cover the movement with his automatic rifle. Although he became the target for the enemy fire, he calmly placed his weapon on a small rock wall and, sweeping the enemy with deadly fire, enabled his comrades to effect a successful withdrawal. While attempting to cross the clearing and rejoin his platoon, Pfc.. Marshall was seriously wounded in both legs by a burst of MG fire. Unable to walk or crawl, but undaunted by his perilous situation, he again put his weapon into action and directed effective fire into the midst of the approaching enemy force, silencing one of the hostile MGs. Despite the intense pain of his wound, he continued firing until all of his ammunition had been expended.
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