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Heroism of Fall
River Soldier Under Fire in Italy Disclosed Pfc. Leo St. Onge Wins Great Praise; Saved Life
of One Buddy
En route to his objective he saved the life of a fellow Infantryman
who had become entangled in communication wire over a swiftly running creek. He scaled a steep, 400 yard hill, set up his machine gun under
terrific crossfire from enemy fortifications, repelled counter-attacks even
though his gun was hit twice, and fired the weapon until a direct hit from a German
mortar knocked it out. After his gun was out of action he borrowed a rifle from a wounded
doughboy and continued to fight until, many hours later, his section was
relieved. These episodes were taken from one day – last May 11 – in the battle
career of Pfc. Leo St. Onge, Infantry, of 242 Harrison Street. They were
reported by his company commander. Captain Donald Shannon, Infantry of
Washington D.C., and made public today by the war department. The account of St. Onge’s heroics was delivered by Capt. Donald
Shannon, telling the story of his soldiers’ attack on Hill 69 in Italy on May
11, 1944. Captain Describes Act “In our attack of
Hill 69 in Italy,” said Captain Shannon, St. Onge, because of causalities in
his machinegun squad prior to H-hour, carried 120 pounds of equipment,
including a packboard, a machine gun camouflage net, 13 sandbags, two engineer
shovels, two engineer picks, two boxes of heavy machine gun ammunition, rations
for two men for two days, his own combat pack, a 30-caliber, water-cooled
machine gun, and an ’03 rifle with four bandoliers of ammunition.” His squad was
assigned to support the attack of an assault platoon which necessitated double
timing over hills, through the deep draws and ditches, and across streams,
for approximately 3500 yards. “The approach to
Hill 69 was barred by the Capo D’Aqua, a swiftly running stream about four
feet deep, with banks rising five or six feet. St. Onge, in crossing the
stream, discovered the ammunition bearer from his section, much larger than himself,
entangled in communication wires just above the waterline. The man was in
danger of drowning.” “St. Onge, working desperately,
helped the ammunition bearer to extricate himself and climb the bank. When
St. Onge dragged himself up the five foot bank he was so exhausted that he
asked an officer to pick him up, so he could continue on his mission.” “To reach his
position it was necessary for him to climb the sharply rising slope of Hill
69, a distance of more than 400 yards.” “Despite his
exhaustion, St. Onge immediately upon reaching the point assigned to him put
his gun into action so he could harass enemy fortifications on Hill 69, which
were covering his position with crossfire.” Gun
Is Smashed “Not only crossfire
from German positions on the other hill but intense artillery and mortar fire
pounded St. Onge’s position. His gun was hit twice and the water jacket was
perforated. But he kept it in action, firing short bursts at the advancing
Germans and assisting in breaking up numerous counter attacks.” “Finally a direct
hit smashed St. Onge’s gun, although he was not wounded. He picked up a rifle
belonging to a wounded man and continued to fight until the German positions
were reduced and his section was relieved.” So impressed was Captain Shannon with St. Onge’s day’s work that he offered to promote the doughboy to sergeant. “No sir,” St. Onge said. “I’d rather stay a machine gunner.” On May 25, two weeks after the action on Hill 69, St. Onge was wounded at Priverno, but according to word from Italy, is recovering from his wounds. He has written his father Alphonse St. Onge, saying his wounds were not serious and not to be concerned. Private St. Onge Gets Purple Heart Private First Class Leo J. St. Onge, son of Alphonse St. Onge (of) 242 Harrison Street, has been awarded the Purple Heart, Colonel A. J. Canning, commanding officer at Rhoads General Hospital, Utica, has announced. The Infantryman, a machine gunner, was wounded in heavy fighting near Rome. He was inducted into the Army in October 1942 and received his basic training at Camp Devens. He was later stationed at Fort Shelby, Miss., Fort Dix, N.J. and Camp Patrick Henry, VA © 2009 Community
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