26 November

PFC CARL V. SHERIDAN
Company K, 47th Infantry,
9th Infantry Division.
Frenzenberg Castle,
Weisweiler, Germany
26 November 1944.

PFC Sheridan was serving as a Bazookaman with K Co, near  Frenzenberg Castle Germany. After an advance of 1,000 yards through a shattering barrage of enemy artillery and mortar fire, the American platoon had captured 2 buildings in the courtyard of the castle but was left with an effective fighting strength of only 35 men.

During the advance, Pfc. Sheridan, acting as a bazooka gunner, braved the enemy fire to stop and procure the additional rockets carried by his ammunition bearer who was wounded. Upon rejoining his company in the captured buildings, he found it in a furious fight with approximately 70 enemy paratroopers occupying the castle gatehouse.

This was a solidly built stone structure surrounded by a deep water-filled moat 20 feet wide. The only approach to the heavily defended position was across the courtyard and over a drawbridge leading to a barricaded oaken door. Pfc. Sheridan, realizing that his bazooka was the only available weapon with sufficient power to penetrate the heavy oak planking, with complete disregard for his own safety left the protection of the buildings and in the face of heavy and intense small-arms and grenade fire, crossed the courtyard to the drawbridge entrance where he could bring direct fire to bear against the door.

Although handicapped by the lack of an assistant, and a constant target for the enemy fire that burst around him, he skillfully and effectively handled his awkward weapon to place two well-aimed rockets into the structure.

Observing that the door was only weakened, and realizing that a gap must be made for a successful assault, he loaded his last rocket, took careful aim, and blasted a hole through the heavy planks. Turning to his company he shouted, “Come on, let’s get them!” With his .45 pistol blazing, he charged into the gaping entrance and was killed by the withering fire that met him. The final assault on Frezenberg Castle was made through the gap which Pfc. Sheridan gave his life to create.