World War II Medal of Honor recipient. He received the award from Major General C.H. Danielson at the Camp Carson Convalescent Hospital in Denver, Colorado on May 12, 1945, for his actions as a Technician Fifth Grade (Corporal) with the Wire Section, Communications Platoon, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Army, on September 7, 1944, near Besancon, France.
He was drafted into the United States Army in June 1941, and, following his recruit and combat training, he was sent to North Africa in February 1942, where he was assigned as a non-combatant with the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as a "wire man" communications technician.
The following year, his unit participated in the Allied Invasion of Sicily, followed by Italy. During the early stages of the Battle of Anzio, he repaired damaged wire lines to maintain communication under intense artillery fire for over three hours on January 31, 1944, and was wounded in the leg, for which he was awarded the first of two Purple Hearts and Silver Star medals. After recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his unit in August 1944 for the for the invasion off southern France (Operation Dragoon) and, a month later, while under enemy fire, he risked his life in order to protect the lives of other soldiers by falling on an enemy hand grenade and absorbing the blast with his body, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He survived the incident and was sent to Colorado to recuperate.
Following the war, he trained as an auto mechanic and moved to Oregon, where he apprenticed at an Oldsmobile dealership. He later taught auto mechanics at Bend High School in Bend, Oregon, and helped to establish an auto mechanics program at the Central Oregon Community College there. He died at the age of 98.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 7 September 1944, near Besancon, France. Technician 5th Grade Maxwell and 3 other soldiers, armed only with .45 caliber automatic pistols, defended the battalion observation post against an overwhelming onslaught by enemy infantrymen in approximately platoon strength, supported by 20mm flak and machinegun fire, who had infiltrated through the battalion's forward companies and were attacking the observation post with machinegun, machine pistol, and grenade fire at ranges as close as 10 yards. Despite a hail of fire from automatic weapons and grenade launchers, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell aggressively fought off advancing enemy elements and, by his calmness, tenacity, and fortitude, inspired his fellows to continue the unequal struggle. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell unhesitatingly hurled himself squarely upon it, using his blanket and his unprotected body to absorb the full force of the explosion. This act of instantaneous heroism permanently maimed Technician 5th Grade Maxwell, but saved the lives of his comrades in arms and facilitated maintenance of vital military communications during the temporary withdrawal of the battalion's forward headquarters."
He was drafted into the United States Army in June 1941, and, following his recruit and combat training, he was sent to North Africa in February 1942, where he was assigned as a non-combatant with the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as a "wire man" communications technician.
The following year, his unit participated in the Allied Invasion of Sicily, followed by Italy. During the early stages of the Battle of Anzio, he repaired damaged wire lines to maintain communication under intense artillery fire for over three hours on January 31, 1944, and was wounded in the leg, for which he was awarded the first of two Purple Hearts and Silver Star medals. After recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his unit in August 1944 for the for the invasion off southern France (Operation Dragoon) and, a month later, while under enemy fire, he risked his life in order to protect the lives of other soldiers by falling on an enemy hand grenade and absorbing the blast with his body, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He survived the incident and was sent to Colorado to recuperate.
Following the war, he trained as an auto mechanic and moved to Oregon, where he apprenticed at an Oldsmobile dealership. He later taught auto mechanics at Bend High School in Bend, Oregon, and helped to establish an auto mechanics program at the Central Oregon Community College there. He died at the age of 98.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 7 September 1944, near Besancon, France. Technician 5th Grade Maxwell and 3 other soldiers, armed only with .45 caliber automatic pistols, defended the battalion observation post against an overwhelming onslaught by enemy infantrymen in approximately platoon strength, supported by 20mm flak and machinegun fire, who had infiltrated through the battalion's forward companies and were attacking the observation post with machinegun, machine pistol, and grenade fire at ranges as close as 10 yards. Despite a hail of fire from automatic weapons and grenade launchers, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell aggressively fought off advancing enemy elements and, by his calmness, tenacity, and fortitude, inspired his fellows to continue the unequal struggle. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell unhesitatingly hurled himself squarely upon it, using his blanket and his unprotected body to absorb the full force of the explosion. This act of instantaneous heroism permanently maimed Technician 5th Grade Maxwell, but saved the lives of his comrades in arms and facilitated maintenance of vital military communications during the temporary withdrawal of the battalion's forward headquarters."
World War II Medal of Honor recipient. He received the award from Major General C.H. Danielson at the Camp Carson Convalescent Hospital in Denver, Colorado on May 12, 1945, for his actions as a Technician Fifth Grade (Corporal) with the Wire Section, Communications Platoon, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Army, on September 7, 1944, near Besancon, France.
He was drafted into the United States Army in June 1941, and, following his recruit and combat training, he was sent to North Africa in February 1942, where he was assigned as a non-combatant with the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as a "wire man" communications technician.
The following year, his unit participated in the Allied Invasion of Sicily, followed by Italy. During the early stages of the Battle of Anzio, he repaired damaged wire lines to maintain communication under intense artillery fire for over three hours on January 31, 1944, and was wounded in the leg, for which he was awarded the first of two Purple Hearts and Silver Star medals. After recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his unit in August 1944 for the for the invasion off southern France (Operation Dragoon) and, a month later, while under enemy fire, he risked his life in order to protect the lives of other soldiers by falling on an enemy hand grenade and absorbing the blast with his body, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He survived the incident and was sent to Colorado to recuperate.
Following the war, he trained as an auto mechanic and moved to Oregon, where he apprenticed at an Oldsmobile dealership. He later taught auto mechanics at Bend High School in Bend, Oregon, and helped to establish an auto mechanics program at the Central Oregon Community College there. He died at the age of 98.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 7 September 1944, near Besancon, France. Technician 5th Grade Maxwell and 3 other soldiers, armed only with .45 caliber automatic pistols, defended the battalion observation post against an overwhelming onslaught by enemy infantrymen in approximately platoon strength, supported by 20mm flak and machinegun fire, who had infiltrated through the battalion's forward companies and were attacking the observation post with machinegun, machine pistol, and grenade fire at ranges as close as 10 yards. Despite a hail of fire from automatic weapons and grenade launchers, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell aggressively fought off advancing enemy elements and, by his calmness, tenacity, and fortitude, inspired his fellows to continue the unequal struggle. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell unhesitatingly hurled himself squarely upon it, using his blanket and his unprotected body to absorb the full force of the explosion. This act of instantaneous heroism permanently maimed Technician 5th Grade Maxwell, but saved the lives of his comrades in arms and facilitated maintenance of vital military communications during the temporary withdrawal of the battalion's forward headquarters."
He was drafted into the United States Army in June 1941, and, following his recruit and combat training, he was sent to North Africa in February 1942, where he was assigned as a non-combatant with the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as a "wire man" communications technician.
The following year, his unit participated in the Allied Invasion of Sicily, followed by Italy. During the early stages of the Battle of Anzio, he repaired damaged wire lines to maintain communication under intense artillery fire for over three hours on January 31, 1944, and was wounded in the leg, for which he was awarded the first of two Purple Hearts and Silver Star medals. After recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his unit in August 1944 for the for the invasion off southern France (Operation Dragoon) and, a month later, while under enemy fire, he risked his life in order to protect the lives of other soldiers by falling on an enemy hand grenade and absorbing the blast with his body, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He survived the incident and was sent to Colorado to recuperate.
Following the war, he trained as an auto mechanic and moved to Oregon, where he apprenticed at an Oldsmobile dealership. He later taught auto mechanics at Bend High School in Bend, Oregon, and helped to establish an auto mechanics program at the Central Oregon Community College there. He died at the age of 98.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 7 September 1944, near Besancon, France. Technician 5th Grade Maxwell and 3 other soldiers, armed only with .45 caliber automatic pistols, defended the battalion observation post against an overwhelming onslaught by enemy infantrymen in approximately platoon strength, supported by 20mm flak and machinegun fire, who had infiltrated through the battalion's forward companies and were attacking the observation post with machinegun, machine pistol, and grenade fire at ranges as close as 10 yards. Despite a hail of fire from automatic weapons and grenade launchers, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell aggressively fought off advancing enemy elements and, by his calmness, tenacity, and fortitude, inspired his fellows to continue the unequal struggle. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell unhesitatingly hurled himself squarely upon it, using his blanket and his unprotected body to absorb the full force of the explosion. This act of instantaneous heroism permanently maimed Technician 5th Grade Maxwell, but saved the lives of his comrades in arms and facilitated maintenance of vital military communications during the temporary withdrawal of the battalion's forward headquarters."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Inscription
Medal of Honor
Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army
Silver Star Medal & Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart & OLC
Married Aug 12, 1951
Family Members
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