World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army in Company E, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on November 23, 1944 near St. Pravel, France. His citation in part reads "Skillfully deploying his light machine-gun section, 1st Lt. Silk answered enemy fire, but when 15 minutes had elapsed with no slackening of resistance, he decided to eliminate the strongpoint by a one-man attack. Running 100 yards across an open field to the shelter of a low stone wall directly in front of the farmhouse, he fired into the door and windows with his carbine; then, in full view of the enemy, vaulted the wall and dashed 50 yards through a hail of bullets to the left side of the house, where he hurled a grenade through a window, silencing a machine gun and killing two gunners. In attempting to move to the right side of the house he drew fire from a second machine gun emplaced in the woodshed. With magnificent courage he rushed this position in the face of direct fire and succeeded in neutralizing the weapon and killing the two gunners by throwing grenades into the structure. His supply of grenades was by now exhausted, but undaunted, he dashed back to the side of the farmhouse and began to throw rocks through a window, demanding the surrender of the remaining enemy. Twelve Germans, overcome by his relentless assault and confused by his unorthodox methods, gave up to the lone American."
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army in Company E, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on November 23, 1944 near St. Pravel, France. His citation in part reads "Skillfully deploying his light machine-gun section, 1st Lt. Silk answered enemy fire, but when 15 minutes had elapsed with no slackening of resistance, he decided to eliminate the strongpoint by a one-man attack. Running 100 yards across an open field to the shelter of a low stone wall directly in front of the farmhouse, he fired into the door and windows with his carbine; then, in full view of the enemy, vaulted the wall and dashed 50 yards through a hail of bullets to the left side of the house, where he hurled a grenade through a window, silencing a machine gun and killing two gunners. In attempting to move to the right side of the house he drew fire from a second machine gun emplaced in the woodshed. With magnificent courage he rushed this position in the face of direct fire and succeeded in neutralizing the weapon and killing the two gunners by throwing grenades into the structure. His supply of grenades was by now exhausted, but undaunted, he dashed back to the side of the farmhouse and began to throw rocks through a window, demanding the surrender of the remaining enemy. Twelve Germans, overcome by his relentless assault and confused by his unorthodox methods, gave up to the lone American."
Bio by: Don Morfe
Inscription
Medal of Honor
Lt Col
US Army
World War II
Back of stone:
Pennsylvania
SS-BSM & OLC
Purple Heart
Family Members
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