Served in the U.S. Army, Company "C", 48th Armored Infantry Battalion, World War II. Awarded the Bronze Star for heroic service in connection with military operations against the enemy of the United States on January 21, 1945 in the area of Born, Belgium. Parents: Frank Howard and Sarah Olive (Johnston) Thayer. Husband of Laura Leona (Ferrier) Thayer.
MILITARY: John W. Thayer, February, 1966:
"I entered the service in June, 1942 and received my basic training at Fort Meade, Maryland, with the 76th Infantry Division. In December I was was shipped to North Africa and there joined the First Infantry Division (Company F, 26th Infantry).
"On January 28, 1943 I was wounded in action in Tunesia when our position was overrun by the Germans. I was left, wounded, on the hill with the Germans, when the remnants of my squad retreated. I managed to hide from the enemy all day and when night came, I crawled and stumbled approximately four miles to the American lines, reaching there at daybreak the next morning. From there it was a succession of operations in field hospitals. I was flown from the Ninth Evacuation Hospital, near Tebessa, to a British Hospital in Algiers. From there I was taken by hospital ship, HMS Newfoundland, to England and placed in an American Hospital. My total hospital confinement exceed 7 months. After that, I served for approximately one year at the notorious Colonel Killian's ill-famed replacement depot at Lichfield Barracks.
"In October, 1944 I was shipped to the continent and served with the 7th Armored Division until I started home on furlough in February, 1945. Fortunately for me, the war in Europe ended two days before the expiration of my furlough. I reported back to Fort Dix on the day President Truman announced the point system for demobilization. My records, which had returned with me from overseas to Fort Dix, were incomplete concerning battle stars and I was shipped to Camp Butner, North Carolina until the records were clarified; then I returned to Fort Dix and was discharged July 1, 1945." (Part of a lengthy narrative he wrote detailing his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge.)
Bronze Star: "HEADQUARTERS 7TH ARMORED DIVISION
APO 257, U. s. army
12 February 1945
AG 201-Thayer, John W. (Enl) (A)
Subject: Award of Bronz Star Medal
To: Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer, 33246557, Infantry, Company "C",
48th Armored Infantry Battalion, APO 257, U. S. Army
1. By direction of the President, and under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, and Circular No.2, Headquarters First United States Army, 4 January 1945, the Bronze Star Medal was awarded per General Orders No. 36, this headquarters, dated 12 February 1945, to:
Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer (Army Serial Number 33246557), Infantry, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 21 January 1945, in the area of Born, Belgium. During the attack on Born, S Sgt. Thayer and another soldier moved into the town in advance of our main forces. A sudden enemy artillery barrage cut off the two men in a house, and, amid shellfire from both sides, the fought against overwhelming odds. Ignoring repeated German demands for surrender, S Sgt. Thayer and his comrade continued to deliver telling fire from their rifles, accounting for several of the enemy and creating an effective diversion that played an important part in the swift advance of our main body of troops. S Sgt Thayer's courageous action, even when heavily outnumbered, reflects high credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.
By order of the COMMANDING GENERAL:
ROBERT W. BURNHAM
Major, A. G. D.
Assistant Adjutant General"
MILITARY: John W. Thayer, February, 1966:
"I entered the service in June, 1942 and received my basic training at Fort Meade, Maryland, with the 76th Infantry Division. In December I was was shipped to North Africa and there joined the First Infantry Division (Company F, 26th Infantry).
"On January 28, 1943 I was wounded in action in Tunesia when our position was overrun by the Germans. I was left, wounded, on the hill with the Germans, when the remnants of my squad retreated. I managed to hide from the enemy all day and when night came, I crawled and stumbled approximately four miles to the American lines, reaching there at daybreak the next morning. From there it was a succession of operations in field hospitals. I was flown from the Ninth Evacuation Hospital, near Tebessa, to a British Hospital in Algiers. From there I was taken by hospital ship, HMS Newfoundland, to England and placed in an American Hospital. My total hospital confinement exceed 7 months. After that, I served for approximately one year at the notorious Colonel Killian's ill-famed replacement depot at Lichfield Barracks.
"In October, 1944 I was shipped to the continent and served with the 7th Armored Division until I started home on furlough in February, 1945. Fortunately for me, the war in Europe ended two days before the expiration of my furlough. I reported back to Fort Dix on the day President Truman announced the point system for demobilization. My records, which had returned with me from overseas to Fort Dix, were incomplete concerning battle stars and I was shipped to Camp Butner, North Carolina until the records were clarified; then I returned to Fort Dix and was discharged July 1, 1945." (Part of a lengthy narrative he wrote detailing his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge.)
Bronze Star: "HEADQUARTERS 7TH ARMORED DIVISION
APO 257, U. s. army
12 February 1945
AG 201-Thayer, John W. (Enl) (A)
Subject: Award of Bronz Star Medal
To: Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer, 33246557, Infantry, Company "C",
48th Armored Infantry Battalion, APO 257, U. S. Army
1. By direction of the President, and under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, and Circular No.2, Headquarters First United States Army, 4 January 1945, the Bronze Star Medal was awarded per General Orders No. 36, this headquarters, dated 12 February 1945, to:
Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer (Army Serial Number 33246557), Infantry, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 21 January 1945, in the area of Born, Belgium. During the attack on Born, S Sgt. Thayer and another soldier moved into the town in advance of our main forces. A sudden enemy artillery barrage cut off the two men in a house, and, amid shellfire from both sides, the fought against overwhelming odds. Ignoring repeated German demands for surrender, S Sgt. Thayer and his comrade continued to deliver telling fire from their rifles, accounting for several of the enemy and creating an effective diversion that played an important part in the swift advance of our main body of troops. S Sgt Thayer's courageous action, even when heavily outnumbered, reflects high credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.
By order of the COMMANDING GENERAL:
ROBERT W. BURNHAM
Major, A. G. D.
Assistant Adjutant General"
Served in the U.S. Army, Company "C", 48th Armored Infantry Battalion, World War II. Awarded the Bronze Star for heroic service in connection with military operations against the enemy of the United States on January 21, 1945 in the area of Born, Belgium. Parents: Frank Howard and Sarah Olive (Johnston) Thayer. Husband of Laura Leona (Ferrier) Thayer.
MILITARY: John W. Thayer, February, 1966:
"I entered the service in June, 1942 and received my basic training at Fort Meade, Maryland, with the 76th Infantry Division. In December I was was shipped to North Africa and there joined the First Infantry Division (Company F, 26th Infantry).
"On January 28, 1943 I was wounded in action in Tunesia when our position was overrun by the Germans. I was left, wounded, on the hill with the Germans, when the remnants of my squad retreated. I managed to hide from the enemy all day and when night came, I crawled and stumbled approximately four miles to the American lines, reaching there at daybreak the next morning. From there it was a succession of operations in field hospitals. I was flown from the Ninth Evacuation Hospital, near Tebessa, to a British Hospital in Algiers. From there I was taken by hospital ship, HMS Newfoundland, to England and placed in an American Hospital. My total hospital confinement exceed 7 months. After that, I served for approximately one year at the notorious Colonel Killian's ill-famed replacement depot at Lichfield Barracks.
"In October, 1944 I was shipped to the continent and served with the 7th Armored Division until I started home on furlough in February, 1945. Fortunately for me, the war in Europe ended two days before the expiration of my furlough. I reported back to Fort Dix on the day President Truman announced the point system for demobilization. My records, which had returned with me from overseas to Fort Dix, were incomplete concerning battle stars and I was shipped to Camp Butner, North Carolina until the records were clarified; then I returned to Fort Dix and was discharged July 1, 1945." (Part of a lengthy narrative he wrote detailing his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge.)
Bronze Star: "HEADQUARTERS 7TH ARMORED DIVISION
APO 257, U. s. army
12 February 1945
AG 201-Thayer, John W. (Enl) (A)
Subject: Award of Bronz Star Medal
To: Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer, 33246557, Infantry, Company "C",
48th Armored Infantry Battalion, APO 257, U. S. Army
1. By direction of the President, and under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, and Circular No.2, Headquarters First United States Army, 4 January 1945, the Bronze Star Medal was awarded per General Orders No. 36, this headquarters, dated 12 February 1945, to:
Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer (Army Serial Number 33246557), Infantry, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 21 January 1945, in the area of Born, Belgium. During the attack on Born, S Sgt. Thayer and another soldier moved into the town in advance of our main forces. A sudden enemy artillery barrage cut off the two men in a house, and, amid shellfire from both sides, the fought against overwhelming odds. Ignoring repeated German demands for surrender, S Sgt. Thayer and his comrade continued to deliver telling fire from their rifles, accounting for several of the enemy and creating an effective diversion that played an important part in the swift advance of our main body of troops. S Sgt Thayer's courageous action, even when heavily outnumbered, reflects high credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.
By order of the COMMANDING GENERAL:
ROBERT W. BURNHAM
Major, A. G. D.
Assistant Adjutant General"
MILITARY: John W. Thayer, February, 1966:
"I entered the service in June, 1942 and received my basic training at Fort Meade, Maryland, with the 76th Infantry Division. In December I was was shipped to North Africa and there joined the First Infantry Division (Company F, 26th Infantry).
"On January 28, 1943 I was wounded in action in Tunesia when our position was overrun by the Germans. I was left, wounded, on the hill with the Germans, when the remnants of my squad retreated. I managed to hide from the enemy all day and when night came, I crawled and stumbled approximately four miles to the American lines, reaching there at daybreak the next morning. From there it was a succession of operations in field hospitals. I was flown from the Ninth Evacuation Hospital, near Tebessa, to a British Hospital in Algiers. From there I was taken by hospital ship, HMS Newfoundland, to England and placed in an American Hospital. My total hospital confinement exceed 7 months. After that, I served for approximately one year at the notorious Colonel Killian's ill-famed replacement depot at Lichfield Barracks.
"In October, 1944 I was shipped to the continent and served with the 7th Armored Division until I started home on furlough in February, 1945. Fortunately for me, the war in Europe ended two days before the expiration of my furlough. I reported back to Fort Dix on the day President Truman announced the point system for demobilization. My records, which had returned with me from overseas to Fort Dix, were incomplete concerning battle stars and I was shipped to Camp Butner, North Carolina until the records were clarified; then I returned to Fort Dix and was discharged July 1, 1945." (Part of a lengthy narrative he wrote detailing his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge.)
Bronze Star: "HEADQUARTERS 7TH ARMORED DIVISION
APO 257, U. s. army
12 February 1945
AG 201-Thayer, John W. (Enl) (A)
Subject: Award of Bronz Star Medal
To: Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer, 33246557, Infantry, Company "C",
48th Armored Infantry Battalion, APO 257, U. S. Army
1. By direction of the President, and under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, and Circular No.2, Headquarters First United States Army, 4 January 1945, the Bronze Star Medal was awarded per General Orders No. 36, this headquarters, dated 12 February 1945, to:
Staff Sergeant John W. Thayer (Army Serial Number 33246557), Infantry, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 21 January 1945, in the area of Born, Belgium. During the attack on Born, S Sgt. Thayer and another soldier moved into the town in advance of our main forces. A sudden enemy artillery barrage cut off the two men in a house, and, amid shellfire from both sides, the fought against overwhelming odds. Ignoring repeated German demands for surrender, S Sgt. Thayer and his comrade continued to deliver telling fire from their rifles, accounting for several of the enemy and creating an effective diversion that played an important part in the swift advance of our main body of troops. S Sgt Thayer's courageous action, even when heavily outnumbered, reflects high credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.
By order of the COMMANDING GENERAL:
ROBERT W. BURNHAM
Major, A. G. D.
Assistant Adjutant General"
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