Max Thompson ( Medal of Honor ) Max Thompson ( July 21 , 1922 – November 30 , 1996 ) 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 . Born in the community of Bethel in Haywood County , North Carolina , Thompson joined the Army from Prescott , Arizona in November 1942 . By October 18 , 1944 , he was serving in Europe as a sergeant in Company K , 18th Infantry Regiment , 1st Infantry Division . During a battle on that day , near Haaren , Germany , he single - handedly attacked the German forces on several occasions . For his actions , he was awarded the Medal of Honor eight months later , on June 18 , 1945 . He was one of two people from Haywood County , North Carolina , to receive the medal in World War II , the other being William D . Halyburton , Jr . . In addition to the Medal of Honor , Thompson also received the Purple Heart and , from the Soviet Union , the Order of Glory , third class . He reached the rank of technical sergeant before leaving the Army . After his military service , Thompson worked in Canton , North Carolina , for Champion International Paper ' s inspection department . He died at age 74 on November 30 , 1996 , and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Enka , North Carolina . Medal of Honor citation . Sergeant Thompson ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : On 18 October 1944 , Company K , 18th Infantry , occupying a position on a hill near Haaren , Germany , was attacked by an enemy infantry battalion supported by tanks . The assault was preceded by an artillery concentration , lasting an hour , which inflicted heavy casualties on the company . While engaged in moving wounded men to cover , Sgt . Thompson observed that the enemy had overrun the positions of the 3d Platoon . He immediately attempted to stem the enemy ' s advance single - handedly . He manned an abandoned machinegun and fired on the enemy until a direct hit from a hostile tank destroyed the gun . Shaken and dazed , Sgt . Thompson picked up an automatic rifle and although alone against the enemy force which was pouring into the gap in our lines , he fired burst after burst , halting the leading elements of the attack and dispersing those following . Throwing aside his automatic rifle , which had jammed , he took up a rocket gun , fired on a light tank , setting it on fire . By evening the enemy had been driven from the greater part of the captured position but still held 3 pillboxes . Sgt . Thompson ' s squad was assigned the task of dislodging the enemy from these emplacements . Darkness having fallen and finding that fire of his squad was ineffective from a distance , Sgt . Thompson crawled forward alone to within 20 yards of 1 of the pillboxes and fired grenades into it . The Germans holding the emplacement concentrated their fire upon him . Though wounded , he held his position fearlessly , continued his grenade fire , and finally forced the enemy to abandon the blockhouse . Sgt . Thompson ' s courageous leadership inspired his men and materially contributed to the clearing of the enemy from his last remaining hold on this important hill position .