During the early hours of 10 March 1945, Private First Class Thomas E. Atkins, Company A, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, together with two companions, repels Japanese attacks on a position on the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon for four hours.
For his action, PFC Atkins will be awarded the Medal of Honor on 12 October 1945. His citation will read:
˝With 2 companions he occupied a position on a ridge outside the perimeter defense established by the 1st Platoon on a high hill. At about 3 a.m., 2 companies of Japanese attacked with rifle and machinegun fire, grenades, TNT charges, and land mines, severely wounding Pfc. Tom Atkins and killing his 2 companions. Despite the intense hostile fire and pain from his deep wound, he held his ground and returned heavy fire. After the attack was repulsed, he remained in his precarious position to repel any subsequent assaults instead of returning to the American lines for medical treatment. An enemy machinegun, set up within 20 yards of his foxhole, vainly attempted to drive him off or silence his gun. The Japanese repeatedly made fierce attacks, but for 4 hours, Pfc. Tom Atkins determinedly remained in his fox hole, bearing the brunt of each assault and maintaining steady and accurate fire until each charge was repulsed. At 7 a.m., 13 enemy dead lay in front of his position; he had fired 400 rounds, all he and his 2 dead companions possessed, and had used 3 rifles until each had jammed too badly for further operation. He withdrew during a lull to secure a rifle and more ammunition, and was persuaded to remain for medical treatment. While waiting, he saw a Japanese within the perimeter and, seizing a nearby rifle, killed him. A few minutes later, while lying on a litter, he discovered an enemy group moving up behind the platoon`s lines. Despite his severe wound, he sat up, delivered heavy rifle fire against the group and forced them to withdraw.˝
Picture: Pfc. Waymen N. Ramply and Cpl. Perry Rowe, cal. .30 heavy machine gunners of the 127th Inf. Regt., 32nd Infantry Division, supporting other elements of their Regt. on the Villa Verde Trail
Source: Signal Corps Archives
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