Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Technician Fourth Grade Truman Kimbro was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on December 19, 1944 near Rocherath, Belgium during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company C, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division. Kimbro was 25 years old.
Kimbro 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.
Kimbro was born on May 27, 1919 in Madisonville, Madison County, Texas. His Medal of Honor is credited to Houston, Harris County, Texas. He is buried at A.B.M.C. Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.
Kimbro is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 78 credited to Texas.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On 19 December 1944, as scout, he led a squad assigned to the mission of mining a vital crossroads near Rocherath, Belgium. At the first attempt to reach the objective, he discovered it was occupied by an enemy tank and at least 20 infantrymen. Driven back by the withering fire, Technician Fourth Grade Kimbro made two more attempts to lead his squad to the crossroads, but all approaches were covered by intense enemy fire. Although warned by our own infantrymen of the great danger involved, he left his squad in a protected place and, laden with mines, crawled alone toward the crossroads. When nearing his objective he was severely wounded, but he continued to drag himself forward and laid his mines across the road. As he tried to crawl from the objective his body was riddled with rifle and machine-gun fire. The mines laid by his act of indomitable courage delayed the advance of enemy armor and prevented the rear of our withdrawing columns from being attacked by the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
When nearing his objective he was severely wounded, but he continued to drag himself forward and laid his mines across the road.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (December 19, 1944).
- Age at death: 25
- Resting place: A.B.M.C. Henri-Chapelle Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Truman Kimbro received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Timeline
- May 27, 1919Born in Madisonville, Madison County, Texas
- December 19, 1944Act of valor — near Rocherath, BelgiumAge 25. Company C, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division Killed in action.
- Resting placeA.B.M.C. Henri-Chapelle CemeteryHenri-Chapelle
Biography
Truman Carol Kimbro (May 27, 1919 – December 19, 1944) 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.
From the Wikipedia article “Truman Kimbro”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
