THE ARTHUR OTTO BEYER OF ROCK TOWNSHIP LOWA HE WAS A SERGEANT IN THE U.S. ARMY.....

 Arthur Otto Beyer of Rock Township, Iowa, was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II on this day in 1945.

Beyer joined the Army in February 1941, and by January 15th, 1945 was serving as a corporal in Company C, 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. On that day, he used hand grenades and his carbine to single-handedly destroy to German machine gun positions before working his way through a honey-combed series of enemy foxholes, killing and capturing German soldiers as he went.

For is actions on this day, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Beyer also witnessed the horrors at Buchenwald when American troops liberated the prisoners held in the concentration camp.

 He rose to the rank of sergeant before leaving the Army. He moved to rural Buffalo North Dakota and married Marian Hicks in 1962. He died at age 55 in 1965 and is buried in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

“He displayed conspicuous gallantry in action. His platoon, in which he was a tank-destroyer gunner, was held up by antitank, machinegun, and rifle fire from enemy troops dug in along a ridge about 200 yards to the front.

 Noting a machinegun position in this defense line, he fired upon it with his 76-mm. gun killing 1 man and silencing the weapon. He dismounted from his vehicle and, under direct enemy observation, crossed open ground to capture the 2 remaining members of the crew. Another machinegun, about 250 yards to the left, continued to fire on him. Through withering fire, he advanced on the position.

 Throwing a grenade into the emplacement, he killed 1 crewmember and again captured the 2 survivors. He was subjected to concentrated small-arms fire but, with great bravery, he worked his way a quarter mile along the ridge, attacking hostile soldiers in their foxholes with his carbine and grenades.

 When he had completed his self-imposed mission against powerful German forces, he had destroyed 2 machinegun positions, killed 8 of the enemy and captured 18 prisoners, including 2 bazooka teams. Cpl. Beyer's intrepid action and unflinching determination to close with and destroy the enemy eliminated the German defense line and enabled his task force to gain its objective.”

We are eternally thankful for Sergeant Beyer’s service to our country. Rest in peace, Sir.

Thanks for reading, leave your thought in the comment section below.