Staff Sergeant Joseph Edward Schaefer, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 24, 1944 near Stolberg, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with 2d Platoon, Company I, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Schaefer was 25 years old.
The medal was presented on July 18, 1945.
Schaefer was born on December 27, 1918 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Long Island, New York. Schaefer died on March 16, 1987 in Staten Island, New York, at the age of 68. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Schaefer is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He was in charge of a squad of the 2d Platoon in the vicinity of Stolberg, Germany, early in the morning of 24 September 1944, when two enemy companies supported by machine guns launched an attack to seize control of an important crossroads which was defended by his platoon. One American squad was forced back, another captured, leaving only S/Sgt. Schaefer's men to defend the position. To shift his squad into a house which would afford better protection, he crawled about under heavy small-arms and machine-gun fire, instructed each individual, and moved to the building. A heavy concentration of enemy artillery fire scored hits on his strongpoint. S/Sgt. Schaefer assigned his men to positions and selected for himself the most dangerous one at the door. With his M1 rifle, he broke the first wave of infantry thrown toward the house. The Germans attacked again with grenades and flamethrowers but were thrown back a second time, S/Sgt. Schaefer killing and wounding several. Regrouped for a final assault, the Germans approached from two directions. One force drove at the house from the front, while a second group advanced stealthily along a hedgerow. Recognizing the threat, S/Sgt. Schaefer fired rapidly at the enemy before him, killing or wounding all six; then, with no cover whatever, dashed to the hedgerow and poured deadly accurate shots into the second group, killing five, wounding two others, and forcing the enemy to withdraw. He scoured the area near his battered stronghold and captured 10 prisoners. By this time the rest of his company had begun a counterattack; he moved forward to assist another platoon to regain its position. Remaining in the lead, crawling and running in the face of heavy fire, he overtook the enemy, and liberated the American squad captured earlier in the battle. In all, single-handed and armed only with his rifle, he killed between 15 and 20 Germans, wounded at least as many more, and took 10 prisoners. S/Sgt. Schaefer's indomitable courage and his determination to hold his position at all costs were responsible for stopping an enemy breakthrough.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II, Korean War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- December 27, 1918Born in New York, New York
- September 24, 1944Act of valor — near Stolberg, GermanyAge 25. 2d Platoon, Company I, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
- July 18, 1945Medal of Honor presented
- March 16, 1987Died in Staten Island, New YorkAge 68.
- Resting placeLong Island National CemeteryFarmingdale, New York
Biography
Joseph Edward Schaefer (December 27, 1918 – March 16, 1987) 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. Schaefer joined the Army from Long Island, New York in January 1942, and by September 24, 1944, was serving as a staff sergeant in Company I, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. On that day, near Stolberg, Germany, Schaefer led his squad in their defense against a German attack. He voluntarily took the most dangerous defensive position, killed many of the attacking soldiers, and single-handedly captured ten.
From the Wikipedia article “Joseph E. Schaefer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- Sgt. Joseph E. Schaefer Oval — public space
