Francis S . Currey Francis Sherman " Frank " Currey ( born June 29 , 1925 ) is a former 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 . Currey was born in Loch Sheldrake , New York , on June 29 , 1925 . After being orphaned at age 12 , he was raised by foster parents on a farm in nearby Hurleyville . He joined the Army in 1943 , one week after graduating from high school . Although he completed Officer Candidate School , at only 18 years old his superiors felt that he was " too immature " to be an officer and denied him a commission . After training with the 75th Infantry Division , Currey was sent to England in the spring of 1944 . Due to a recently signed executive order which prevented soldiers under age 19 from entering combat areas , Currey was delayed in England until his birthday at the end of June . He then landed at Omaha Beach , several weeks after D - Day , and in September joined the 120th Infantry Regiment in the Netherlands . By December 21 , 1944 , Currey was serving as a Sergeant in Company K , 120th Infantry Regiment , 30th Infantry Division . On that day , in Malmedy , Belgium , Currey repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire to attack the German forces and rescue five comrades who had been pinned down by enemy fire . He was awarded the Medal of Honor eight months later , on August 17 , 1945 . In 1998 , a G . I . Joe action figure was modeled after Currey . Medal of Honor citation . Sergeant Currey ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : He was an automatic rifle man with the 3d Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy , Belgium , on 21 December 1944 , when the enemy launched a powerful attack . Overrunning tank destroyer s and antitank guns located near the strong point , German tanks advanced to the 3d Platoon ' s position , and , after prolonged fighting , forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory . Sgt . Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position at a house a short distance away . In the face of small - arms , machinegun , and artillery fire , he , with a companion , knocked out a tank with 1 shot . Moving to another position , he observed 3 Germans in the doorway of an enemy - held house . He killed or wounded all 3 with his automatic rifle . He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within 50 yards of the house , intent on wrecking it with rockets . Covered by friendly fire , he stood erect , and fired a shot which knocked down half of 1 wall . While in this forward position , he observed 5 Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and 3 tanks . Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced , Sgt . Currey crossed the street to a vehicle , where he procured an armful of antitank grenades . These he launched while under heavy enemy fire , driving the tankmen from the vehicles into the house . He then climbed onto a half - track in full view of the Germans and fired a machinegun at the house . Once again changing his position , he manned another machinegun whose crew had been killed ; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers were able to retire to safety . Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties , the enemy was forced to withdraw . Through his extensive knowledge of weapons and by his heroic and repeated braving of murderous enemy fire , Sgt . Currey was greatly responsible for inflicting heavy losses in men and material on the enemy , for rescuing 5 comrades , 2 of whom were wounded , and for stemming an attack which threatened to flank his battalion ' s position .