LYONSJ9 Posted January 26, 2021 Share #1 Posted January 26, 2021 It was Halloween night, 1918 when Bernard Sweeney would become an American Hero. On the night of October 31st, 1918, Sgt. Bernard Sweeney of Philadelphia lay crouched in a ditch near Brabant-Sur-Meuse, France alongside his commanding officer as German artillery shells crashed all around them. Across the road, the vital allied telephone lines lay ripped to shreds by the massive bombardment. Near by, over 1,000 men of the 3rd Battalion of the 79th Division were unknowingly in the path of a massive German artillery strike planned for the next morning. It was imperative that they be warned of what awaited them at dawn, but due to the state of the communication lines, this was impossible. Sweeney had just watched 16 other men run across the road to mend the lines only to be blown to bits. After having had enough of watching almost all of the men under him get killed or severely wounded before his eyes, he asked Major Frank Lloyd (for the 17th time) to allow him to attempt to mend the broken wires, after Major Lloyd finally relented, Sweeney charged across the pot marked road with his tools, and began to climb atop the telephone poles to mend the wires. Through a hail of machine gun and artillery fire, Sweeney set to work repairing each wire, and returning the communication system to working order. For this incredible act of heroism that indirectly saved hundreds of lives, Sweeney was personally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing, and the Croix d’Guerre by Marshal Pètain. Sweeney would go on to survive the war, and fill out the rest of his long life as a grocer in his native Philadelphia. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted January 26, 2021 Share #2 Posted January 26, 2021 Wow, with a bIg set of you know what, He led a very humble and content life just being a grocery. And a great RPPC, love the 79th patchSent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted January 26, 2021 Wow, with a bIg set of you know what, He led a very humble and content life just being a grocery. And a great RPPC, love the 79th patchSent from my moto g(7) play using TapatalkThank you Bill! He was definitely a tough bird! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uniformcollector Posted January 27, 2021 Share #4 Posted January 27, 2021 Incredible! War-movie worthy heroics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertmedals Posted January 27, 2021 Share #5 Posted January 27, 2021 Excellent miniture medals, SSI, and postcard portrait and a great narrative for a very brave man. Thanks for posting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted January 27, 2021 Incredible! War-movie worthy heroicsThank you! Imo, this might have justified the MOH. He definitely had balls of steel!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted January 27, 2021 Excellent miniture medals, SSI, and postcard portrait and a great narrative for a very brave man. Thanks for posting it.Thank you Bert! I was really excited to get this one. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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