14 May

1Lt ROBERT T. WAUGH
339th Infantry, 85th ID
Near Tremensucli, Italy
11-14 May 1944

While spearheading an attack on hardened enemy positions near Tremensucli Italy, 1LT Waugh’s platoon came across a heavily mined area.

The LT. personally reconnoitered the area before entering it with his platoon, then continued to lead his men up the hill to take the high ground.

Enemy Bunkers poured fire in the advancing Americans halting their progress. 1LT Waugh advanced alone throwing phosphorus grenades into the first bunker then picking off the occupants as they fled the flames.

1LT. Waugh continued his trek, bunker to bunker killing or capturing the enemy soldiers manning each position.

On the 4^th day of the battle, the morning of 14^th of  May, 1st Lt. Waugh directed his platoon to lay down covering fire as he single handedly attacked 2 enemy pill boxes defending the high ground. He tossed grenades into each Pill Box, forcing enemy soldiers out of the bunker where Waugh dispatched them with his Thompson.

At battles end there was no question in anyone’s mind who swaywd the tide to favor the Americans. 1LT Waugh continued to lead his platoon in combat, it is likely he never knew he was recommended for the Medal of Honor as he was killed was killed in action in Itri, Italy, while leading his platoon in an attack weeks later.

to quote 1LT Waugh’s MOH citation – “The fearless actions of 1st Lt. Waugh broke the Gustav Line at that point, neutralizing 6 bunkers and 2 pillboxes and he was personally responsible for the death of 30 of the enemy and the capture of 25 others.”