Joseph E . Schaefer Joseph Edward Schaefer ( December 27 , 1918 – March 16 , 1987 ) 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 . Schaefer joined the Army from Long Island , New York in January 1942 , and by September 24 , 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company I , 18th Infantry Regiment , 1st Infantry Division . On that day , near Stolberg , Germany , led his squad in their defense against a German attack . He voluntarily took the most dangerous defensive position , killed many of the attacking soldiers , and single - handedly captured ten . He then participated in the American counter - attack and freed a group of American soldiers captured earlier . For his actions during the battle , he was awarded the Medal of Honor eleven months later , on August 22 , 1945 . Schaefer later served in the Korean War . He died at age 68 and was buried at Long Island National Cemetery , Farmingdale , New York . Medal of Honor citation . Schaefer ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : He was in charge of a squad of the 2d Platoon in the vicinity of Stolberg , Germany , early in the morning of 24 September 1944 , when 2 enemy companies supported by machineguns launched an attack to seize control of an important crossroads which was defended by his platoon . One American squad was forced back , another captured , leaving only SSG Schaefer ' s men to defend the position . To shift his squad into a house which would afford better protection , he crawled about under heavy small - arms and machinegun fire , instructed each individual , and moved to the building . A heavy concentration of enemy artillery fire scored hits on his strong point . S / Sgt . Schaefer assigned his men to positions and selected for himself the most dangerous one at the door . With his M1 rifle , he broke the first wave of infantry thrown toward the house . The Germans attacked again with grenades and flame thrower s but were thrown back a second time , S / Sgt . Schaefer killing and wounding several . Regrouped for a final assault , the Germans approached from 2 directions . One force drove at the house from the front , while a second group advanced stealthily along a hedgerow . Recognizing the threat , S / Sgt . Schaefer fired rapidly at the enemy before him , killing or wounding all 6 ; then , with no cover whatever , dashed to the hedgerow and poured deadly accurate shots into the second group , killing 5 , wounding 2 others , and forcing the enemy to withdraw . He scoured the area near his battered stronghold and captured 10 prisoners . By this time the rest of his company had begun a counterattack ; he moved forward to assist another platoon to regain its position . Remaining in the lead , crawling and running in the face of heavy fire , he overtook the enemy , and liberated the American squad captured earlier in the battle . In all , single - handed and armed only with his rifle , he killed between 15 and 20 Germans , wounded at least as many more , and took 10 prisoners . S / Sgt . Schaefer ' s indomitable courage and his determination to hold his position at all costs were responsible for stopping an enemy break - through .