Russell J. York
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Russell J. York (b. August 5, 1921 - d. July 22, 2006) [1]a native of Waterville, Maine served in World War II in 1944- 1945 as a combat medic assigned to the 4th Engineer Battalion of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. He landed at Utah Beach on D-Day under the command of Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and with the U.S. 22d Infantry Regiment served in the campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland, Battle of the Bulge and Central Europe. [1]
In the battle for the Hurtgen Forest, with the writer Ernest Hemingway, serving under Colonel, later Major General Charles T. Lanham, he earned the Silver Star. [2]
The citation follows:
| “ | For gallantry in action in Germany, November 20, 1944, Technician Medical Fourth Grade York accompanied an engineer squad on a mission of building a two-span trestle bridge. The bridge site [The Weiser Weh near Grosshau] [3] and a nearby crossroads were under direct enemy observation and subject to mortar and artillery fire. While the work was in progress, the enemy delivered a concentration of heavy caliber artillery fire. As the squad dispersed, several members became casualties.
Although the shelling continued, Technician Medical Fourth Grade York went from one man to another administering first aid. While one casualty lay in an exposed position, directly on the crossroads, he bandaged his wounds and assisted in removing him to a vehicle. As the shelling continued, York repeatedly entered the zone of fire to administer to the casualties, regardless of personal risk involved. Many shells burst close by, but he persisted in work until all wounded were evacuated. ... York's spirit of courageous self-sacrifice resulted in saving many lives. |
” |
During the incident York ran out of tourniquet material and went to Major General Raymond O. Barton his commander, and requested the General lend him his belt. He did and York went back in to treat more men.
He was among the first to enter the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald with the CBS News correspondent Edward R. Murrow.
York turned down a Purple Heart so as to not worry his mother, and becasue he felt coughing up blood from a concussion paled compared to what he'd seen others endure on a daily basis. He shared the incident with Hemingway ,"who suffered four concussions in two years during World War II." In Company "C" he was known as "Doc."
He was recently interviewed for the Veterans' History Project about his service. The tape will be available for the public soon through that organization at the Library of Congress's veteran's website
[edit] Awards
- Silver Star
- Bronze Star Medal
- Combat Medical Badge
- Good Conduct Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal With Arrowhead device and one Silver Service star- American Campaign Medal
- Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp
- World War II Victory Medal
- Belgian Fourragere
- Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- MacDonald, Charles B. The Battle For the Huertgen Forest: ISBN 0-8122-1831-0
- Rush, Robert S. Hell in the Hurtgen Forest: ISBN 0-7006-1360-9
- Hemingway, Ernest M. By-line Ernest Hemingway: ISBN 0-684-83905-9
- Across the River and Into the Trees: ISBN 0-684-84464-8
- 4th Engineer Combat Battalion
- [4th Engineer Battalion]
