TFH 8/23: Staff Sergeant Alvin P. Carey, U.S. Army

From Medal of Honor citations:

*CAREY, ALVIN P.

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 38th Infantry, 2nd
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Plougastel, Brittany, France, 23
August 1944. Entered service at: Laughlinstown, Pa. Born: 16 August
1916, Lycippus, Pa. G.O. No.: 37, 11 May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the
call of duty, on 23 August 1944. S/Sgt. Carey, leader of a machinegun
section, was advancing with his company in the attack on the strongly
held enemy hill 154, near Plougastel, Brittany, France. The advance was
held up when the attacking units were pinned down by intense enemy
machinegun fire from a pillbox 200 yards up the hill. From his position
covering the right flank, S/Sgt. Carey displaced his guns to an advanced
position and then, upon his own initiative, armed himself with as many
hand grenades as he could carry and without regard for his personal
safety started alone up the hill toward the pillbox. Crawling forward
under its withering fire, he proceeded 150 yards when he met a German
rifleman whom he killed with his carbine. Continuing his steady forward
movement until he reached grenade-throwing distance, he hurled his
grenades at the pillbox opening in the face of intense enemy fire which
wounded him mortally. Undaunted, he gathered his strength and continued
his grenade attack until one entered and exploded within the pillbox,
killing the occupants and putting their guns out of action. Inspired by
S/Sgt. Carey's heroic act, the riflemen quickly occupied the position
and overpowered the remaining enemy resistance in the vicinity.

Staff Sergeant Carey, all freedom loving people are forever in your and your comrades' debt. Your gallantry in the face of death and the enemy on August 23, 1944 was your finest hour!