Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
Lieutenant Johnnie Casteel, U.S. Army tank commander, was awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in battle, 11 August 1944, during the Normandy Invasion.
-----------------
First Lieut. Johnnie L. Casteel, husband of Mrs. Alma Casteel of Shattuck, Okla., and son of Mrs. A. Casteel, Salina, Kans., formerly of Protection, died August 12, 1944, of wounds received in action while serving with the Fourth Infantry Division in Europe. He has been awarded the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in action.
His gallant actions are recounted in an official communication of the European Theater of Operations which read:
"Lieut. Casteel, leader of a tank platoon, brought his tanks forward, wiped out one machine gun nest and moved out ahead of our lines. His tank was hit by fire from an enemy 88 mm gun and set afire. When Lieut. Casteel got out, he was taken prisoner and his weapons, together with his personal items, were taken from him.
Without regard for his personal safety, he grabbed the enemy soldier, threw him across a hedgerow toward our lines and jumped over behind him. He then dragged the enemy soldier at least fifty yards while under heavy fire from both the enemy and friendly troops. Though wounded, he turned his prisoner over to friendly troops and gave important directions regarding the location of the enemy tank before being carried away on a litter. Lieut. Casteel's exemplary courage reflects great credit upon himself and the military service."
---------------------
I'm seeking a photo of him for use on the following web page devoted to men from Comanche County, Kansas, who gave their lives in service during World War II:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kscomanc/ww2casualties.html
If you have a photo of him, please contact me at
jdf@theriver.com
Thanks,
Jerry Ferrin
Notify Administrator about this message?
Followups:No followups yet |
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/casteel/messages/1369.html | ||
 |
Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|