Second Lieutenant Harry J. Michael, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on March 14, 1945 near Neiderzerf, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company L, 318th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division. Michael was 23 years old.
Michael was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 20, 1946 — presented to his father Plomer R. Michael.
Michael was born on March 13, 1922 in Benton, Elkhart County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Milford, Kosciusko County, Indiana. He is buried at Violett Cemetery in Goshen, Indiana.
Michael is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 75 credited to Indiana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He was serving as a rifle platoon leader when his company began an assault on a wooded ridge northeast of the village of Neiderzerf, Germany, early on 13 March 1945. A short distance up the side of the hill, 2d Lt. Michael, at the head of his platoon, heard the click of an enemy machine-gun bolt. Quietly halting the company, he silently moved off into the woods and discovered two enemy machine guns and crews. Executing a sudden charge, he completely surprised the enemy and captured the guns and crews. At daybreak, enemy voices were heard in the thick woods ahead. Leading his platoon in a flanking movement, they charged the enemy with hand grenades and, after a bitter fight, captured 25 members of an SS mountain division, three artillery pieces, and 20 horses. While his company was establishing its position, 2d Lt. Michael made two personal reconnaissance missions of the wood on his left flank. On his first mission he killed two, wounded four, and captured six enemy soldiers singlehandedly. On the second mission he captured seven prisoners. During the afternoon he led his platoon on a frontal assault of a line of enemy pillboxes, successfully capturing the objective, killing 10, and capturing 30 prisoners. The following morning the company was subjected to sniper fire and 2d Lt. Michael, in an attempt to find the hidden sniper, was shot and killed. The inspiring leadership and heroic agressiveness displayed by 2d Lt. Michael upheld the highest traditions of the military service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (March 14, 1945).
- Age at death: 23
- Resting place: Violett Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →
Timeline
- March 13, 1922Born in Benton, Elkhart County, Indiana
- March 14, 1945Act of valor — near Neiderzerf, GermanyAge 23. Company L, 318th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- February 20, 1946Medal of Honor presented posthumouslypresented to his father Plomer R. Michael
- Resting placeViolett CemeteryGoshen, Indiana
Biography
Harry J. Michael (March 13, 1922 – March 14, 1945) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Michael joined the Army from his birthplace of Milford, Indiana in 1943, and by March 13, 1945, was serving as a second lieutenant in Company L, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division. On that day, near Neiderzerf, Germany, Michael single-handedly captured two German machinegun emplacements, reconnoitered the area alone, and led his platoon in two attacks which captured more enemy soldiers and materiel. He was killed while hunting for an enemy sniper the next morning.
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