On 5 February 1945, T/Sgt. Donald E. Rudolph was acting as a platoon leader near Luzon, Philippines while serving with Co. E, 2/20th Infantry, 6th ID.
While administering first aid on the battlefield, he observed enemy fire issuing from a nearby culvert. Crawling to the culvert with rifle and grenades, he killed 3 of the enemy at point blank range and then worked his way across open terrain toward a line of enemy pillboxes which had immobilized his unit.
With his bare hands he tore away the wood and tin covering, then dropped a grenade through the opening, killing the enemy gunners and destroying their machinegun. He then seized a pickaxe and made a hole while on the roof of the second pillbox, killing everyone inside with grenades.
In quick succession he attacked and neutralized 6 more pillboxes.
Later, when his platoon was attacked by an enemy tank, he advanced under covering fire, climbed to the top of the tank and dropped a white phosphorus grenade through the turret, destroying the crew.
He single-handedly accomplished what an entire company was tasked to do in the first place. His actions would earn him the Medal of Honor. #ww2 #stayzero #zerofoxtrot #slayer