Herschel F. Briles-Prairie City, IA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 41° 36.294 W 093° 14.082
15T E 480442 N 4605936
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient for action near Scherpensel, Germany on November 20, 1944. He is buried in Waveland Cemetery, Prairie City, IA
Waymark Code: WMWWEG
Location: Iowa, United States
Date Posted: 10/22/2017
Views: 1
He was born on February 7, 1914 in Colfax IA and died on July 17, 1994 in Mitchellville, IA. He attained the rank of First Sergeant. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: BRILES, HERSCHEL F.
• Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Co. C, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion
• Place and date: Near Scherpenseel, Germany, 20 November 1944
• Entered service at: Fort Des Moines, Iowa
• G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945
Citation: He was leading a platoon of destroyers across an exposed slope near Scherpenseel, Germany, on 20 November 1944, when they came under heavy enemy artillery fire. A direct hit was scored on 1 of the vehicles, killing 1 man, seriously wounding 2 others, and setting the destroyer afire. With a comrade, S/Sgt. Briles left the cover of his own armor and raced across ground raked by artillery and small-arms fire to the rescue of the men in the shattered destroyer. Without hesitation, he lowered himself into the burning turret, removed the wounded and then extinguished the fire. From a position he assumed the next morning, he observed hostile infantrymen advancing. With his machinegun, he poured such deadly fire into the enemy ranks that an entire pocket of 55 Germans surrendered, clearing the way for a junction between American units which had been held up for 2 days. Later that day, when another of his destroyers was hit by a concealed enemy tank, he again left protection to give assistance. With the help of another soldier, he evacuated two wounded under heavy fire and, returning to the burning vehicle, braved death from exploding ammunition to put out the flames. By his heroic initiative and complete disregard for personal safety, S/Sgt. Briles was largely responsible for causing heavy enemy casualties, forcing the surrender of 55 Germans, making possible the salvage of our vehicles, and saving the lives of wounded comrades.
Armed Service: Army
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