Robert E . Gerstung Robert E . Gerstung ( August 6 , 1915 – June 17 , 1979 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Biography . Gerstung joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago , Illinois , and by December 19 , 1944 was serving as a technical sergeant in Company H , 313th Infantry Regiment , 79th Infantry Division . On that day , near Berg , Germany , he manned a machine gun in support of an infantry assault on the Siegfried Line . He remained at his gun despite intense enemy fire , even after all other men in his squad were killed or wounded . He crossed open terrain to retrieve more ammunition , commandeered another machine gun after his first was disabled by hostile fire , and , when the order came to withdrawal , he remained behind to cover the infantry ' s retreat . Gerstung was wounded while trying to return to friendly lines , but managed to drag himself and his machine gun to safety . He recovered from his wounds and , on September 5 , 1945 , was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions . Gerstung left the Army while still a technical sergeant . He died at age 63 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery , Arlington County , Virginia . Medal of Honor citation . Technical Sergeant Gerstung ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : On 19 December 1944 he was ordered with his heavy machinegun squad to the support of an infantry company attacking the outer defense of the Siegfried Line near Berg , Germany . For 8 hours he maintained a position made almost untenable by the density of artillery and mortar fire concentrated upon it and the proximity of enemy troops who threw hand grenade s into the emplacement . While all other members of his squad became casualties , he remained at his gun . When he ran out of ammunition , he fearlessly dashed across bullet - swept , open terrain to secure a new supply from a disabled friendly tank . A fierce barrage pierced the water jacket of his gun , but he continued to fire until the weapon overheated and jammed . Instead of withdrawing , he crawled 50 yards across coverless ground to another of his company ' s machineguns which had been silenced when its entire crew was killed . He continued to man this gun , giving support vitally needed by the infantry . At one time he came under direct fire from a hostile tank , which shot the glove from his hand with an armor - piercing shell but could not drive him from his position or stop his shooting . When the American forces were ordered to retire to their original positions , he remained at his gun , giving the only covering fire . Finally withdrawing , he cradled the heavy weapon in his left arm , slung a belt of ammunition over his shoulder , and walked to the rear , loosing small bursts at the enemy as he went . One hundred yards from safety , he was struck in the leg by a mortar shell ; but , with a supreme effort , he crawled the remaining distance , dragging along the gun which had served him and his comrades so well . By his remarkable perseverance , indomitable courage , and heroic devotion to his task in the face of devastating fire , T / Sgt . Gerstung gave his fellow soldiers powerful support in their encounter with formidable enemy forces .