On January 15, 1945, PFC. Herbert Burr was an M4 Sherman Tank gunner with the 11th Armored Div. during an attack in Noville, Belgium.
The tank took a direct hit from a German AT Gun, killing 2 and wounding another of the crew. With the tank engulfed in flames and shell shocked from impact, he disregarded the hazards and located the enemy emplacement, destroyed it with his .30cal MG. Once his ammunition was depleted, he rescued the wounded soldier out of the burning vehicle and escorted him back to the lines. Burr then returned under heavy enemy fire to retrieve the burning tank. Knowing that it could have exploded at any moment, he extinguished the flames and drove the tank back to friendly lines.
For his actions, he was awarded the DSC.
Just 2 months later, his tank came under fire from enemy rockets near the town of Dorrmoschel, Germany.
With the entire crew wounded, he ordered them to bail out and return to friendly lines. He then climbed into the driver's seat and continued on the mission of entering the town to reconnoiter road conditions. As he rounded a turn, he encountered an 88m AT Gun at point blank range.
Realizing that he had no crew and no one to man the guns, he charged and drove his tank completely over the gun. So unexpected and daring was his assault that, he demolished the piece and caused its crew to flee. As an added measure, he also ran over a supply truck, before heading back to his lines. When he realized that one of his crew didn’t return, he ran through a hail of sniper fire and rescued him.
For his actions, he was awarded the MOH and a lifetime of virgins.
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