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Valor in Alsace - 143rd IR, 36th ID combat medic cut-down grouping


36thIDAlex
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     Another great 36th Division grouping for the collection today, this time my first combat medic who was a valor BSM recipient in the same action my grandfather was wounded at!

 

      This set belonged to S SGT Adrian Herman of Blue Earth, Minnesota. He left behind mechanic work at a John Deere dealer to become a medic in the army, first traveling to England before joining the Medical Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division in the breakout from Rome. Fighting through Italy and Southern France, it was not til the bloody combat of the Vosges that Adrian exceptionally distinguished himself in action.

 

     During a 9-day stint where 2/143 was tasked to help break out to the Alsatian plain, Adrian led a litter-bearing squad under heavy enemy fire in extremely harsh winter weather to save as many T-Patchers as possible. After breaking into Alsace, he first supported my grandfather’s battalion (3/142) during their liberation of Selestat, where Adrian directed the treatment and rescue of men wounded in the heavy urban house-to-house fighting. Then the battalion was trucked to support the 143rd line by holding Hills 351 and 393 (near Mittelwihr) from continuous attack by fresh SS units brought in to capture Colmar. During the fighting Adrian was wounded severely when a artillery round tore apart his back, however, knowing the harsh conditions meant a casualty could die without care, he decided to stay behind in his wounded state to take care of the man on his stretcher while the other bearer went for help, eventually returning to save them both

 

     For his actions Adrian was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart, however, the wound put him out of the war until occupation. 

 

As always, his full story is on my site here:

 

His citation reads: https://www.36thdivisionarchive.com/pa-36-herman

 

For meritorious service in direct support of combat operations from November 28 to December 7, 1944, in France. During this period Sgt. Herman was assigned the mission of directing a litter squad in evacuating the casualties inflicted on companies F and G during their operations against the enemy. His task was rendered exceptionally arduous by the difficult, mountainous terrain, the long evacuation routes, and the high casualty rate. Adverse weather conditions necessitated the immediate evacuation of all the wounded and Sgt. Herman frequently removed casualties from the battlefield when all other personnel were pinned to the ground by heavy artillery and mortar barrages. On the night of December 7, during a particularly intense artillery concentration, Sgt. Herman was severely wounded while evacuating an injured soldier. Without a thought for personal safety, he valiantly remained in the shelled area with his patient until additional litter bearers could be secured.


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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks much! I always spend a lot of time finding and documenting the stories of each vet in my collection. It's what I find to be the most important part of our hobby!

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Brian Dentino

Very nice additions to your collection and a great write up.  Love the pictures showing where the valorous action happened.  Paints a fuller picture of the incredible story you presented.

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