THE U.S. ARMY BEGAN OPERATION UNDERTONE ALSO KNOWN AS THE SAAR-PALATINATE OFFENSIVE
On March 15, 1945, the US Army began Operation Undertone, also known as the Saar-Palatinate Offensive, which was an attack on German positions in the Alsace region of France.
In approving the plan, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower asserted that the objective was not only to clear the Saar-Palatinate but to establish bridgeheads with forces of the Sixth Army Group over the Rhine between Mainz and Mannheim. The U.S. Third Army of the Twelfth Army Group was to be limited to diversionary attacks across the Moselle to protect the Sixth Army Group's left flank.
In the sector of the 36th Infantry Division, the day's fighting produced a heroic performance by a rifleman of the 142d Infantry, Pfc. Silvestre S. Herrera. After making a one-man charge that carried a German strongpoint and took eight prisoners, Herrera and his platoon were pinned down by fire from a second position protected by a minefield. Disregarding the mines, Herrera also charged this position but stepped on a mine and lost both feet. Even that failed to check him. He brought the enemy under such accurate rifle fire that others of his platoon were able to bypass the minefield and take the Germans in flank.
Pfc. Silvestre S. Herrera was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions on March 15, 1945. Born in Mexico of Hispanic heritage, Herrera was the only living person authorized to wear both the Medal of Honor and Mexico's Order of Military Merit (First Class) at the time of his death in November 2007.
Thanks for reading leave your thoughts in the comment section below
Comments
Post a Comment