On Feb.1, 1944 near Cisterna di Littoria (Italy) ,a heavy German counterattack was launched against the men of the 30th IR, 3rd ID.
Pfc. Alton Knappenberger aka Knappie crawled to an exposed knoll and went into position with his BAR in order to lay down some hate.
He single handedly took out 2 MG positions from 100 yards out and killed scores of enemy soldiers who had crawled up to a few yards of his position.
Shortly thereafter, an enemy 20mm. antiaircraft gun directed fire at him, and that too was destroyed.
The Germans began pounding his position with tank and artillery shellfire, but Knappie stood his ground a continued his one man stand.
In a span of two hours, Pfc. Knappenberger, a 20 year old farm boy from PA who was only 5'6" and 118lbs, held off 2 German infantry companies and killed over 60 of the enemy with his BAR; the only injury he sustained was a blister on his foot.
After only spending a total of 11 days in combat, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. #stackjerry #barstories