Ernest H . Dervishian Ernest Herbert Dervishian ( , August 10 , 1916 – May 20 , 1984 ) 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 . Dervishian was born in Richmond , Virginia to Armenian parents , who gave him the Armenian name Yervant ( Երւանդ ) . His father Hagop Artin Dervishian was born in Tokat , Ottoman Empire , and Mary ( Juskalian ) Dervishian , who was born in Kharpert ( today Harput ) , Ottoman Empire . In 1933 , he graduated from John Marshall High School . In 1937 , he passed the Virginia State Bar Examination before he earned his Bachelor of Laws degree . He joined the United States Army as a buck private in September 1941 , trained at Camp Croft , South Carolina and by May 23 , 1944 was serving as a technical sergeant in the 133rd Infantry Regiment , 34th Infantry Division . On that day , near Cisterna , Italy , he repeatedly attacked German positions alone and captured many prisoners . He was subsequently promoted to second lieutenant and , on January 8 , 1945 , was awarded the Medal of Honor . He was the 33rd Virginian to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor . Dervishian died at the age of 67 and was buried on the 40th anniversary of his heroic service , May 23 , 1984 , at Westhampton Memorial Park in his hometown of Richmond . Medal of Honor citation . Dervishian ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : " General Order No . 3 , 8 Jan . 1945 Citation " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on May 23 , 1944 , in the vicinity of Cisterna , Italy . 2d Lt . Dervishian ( then Tech . Sgt . ) and 4 members of his platoon found themselves far ahead of their company after an aggressive advance in the face of enemy artillery and sniper fire . Approaching a railroad embankment , they observed a force of German soldiers hiding in dugouts . 2d Lt . Dervishian , directing his men to cover him , boldly moved forward and firing his carbine forced 10 Germans to surrender . His men then advanced and captured 15 more Germans occupying adjacent dugouts . The prisoners were returned to the rear to be picked up by advancing units . From the railroad embankment , 2d Lt . Dervishian and his men then observed 9 Germans who were fleeing across a ridge . He and his men opened fire and 3 of the enemy were wounded . As his men were firing , 2d Lt . Dervishian , unnoticed , fearlessly dashed forward alone and captured all of the fleeing enemy before his companions joined him on the ridge . At this point 4 other men joined 2d Lt . Dervishian ' s group . An attempt was made to send the 4 newly arrived men along the left flank of a large , dense vineyard that lay ahead , but murderous machinegun fire forced them back . Deploying his men , 2d Lt . Dervishian moved to the front of his group and led the advance into the vineyard . He and his men suddenly became pinned down by a machinegun firing at them at a distance of 15 yards . Feigning death while the hostile weapon blazed away at him , 2d Lt . Dervishian assaulted the position during a halt in the firing , using a hand grenade and carbine fire , and forced the 4 German crewmembers to surrender . The 4 men on the left flank were now ordered to enter the vineyard but encountered machinegun fire which killed 1 soldier and wounded another . At this moment the enemy intensified the fight by throwing potato - masher grenades at the valiant band of American soldiers within the vineyard . 2d Lt . Dervishian ordered his men to withdraw ; but instead of following , jumped into the machinegun position he had just captured and opened fire with the enemy weapon in the direction of the second hostile machinegun nest . Observing movement in a dugout 2 or 3 yards to the rear , 2d Lt . Dervishian seized a machine pistol . Simultaneously blazing away at the entrance to the dugout to prevent its occupants from firing and firing his machinegun at the other German nest , he forced 5 Germans in each position to surrender . Determined to rid the area of all Germans , 2d Lt . Dervishian continued his advance alone . Noticing another machinegun position beside a house , he picked up an abandoned machine pistol and forced 6 more Germans to surrender by spraying their position with fire . Unable to locate additional targets in the vicinity , 2d Lt . Dervishian conducted these prisoners to the rear . The prodigious courage and combat skill exhibited by 2d Lt . Dervishian are exemplary of the finest traditions of the U . S . Armed Forces . In his speech on the occasion of " Dervishian Day " in his hometown of Richmond , Virginia , he stated : " God ' s hand [ had been ] on my shoulder . . . I was lucky . My thoughts and your thoughts go out to those who have been killed , those have been wounded , those who are missing , those who are prisoners of war . They are all due equal credit , if credit is to be bestowed for doing one ' s duty . Countless others performed acts equal to mine . They were not so lucky . "