THE 16TH INFANTRY REGIMENT'S MEDAL OF HONOR HALL OF FAME

Listed below are the citations of those embers of the Regiment who have been awarded our nation's highest award for Valor.  Their sacrifices have helped make this great Regiment what it is today.  They and hundreds of thousands of other 16th Infantry Solider's have answered our countries call to duty in every major conflict except Korea, becuase at the time ofthe Korean War, the First Infantry Division was the only Infantry Division in Germany.

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATIONS OF THE

16TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

First Lieutenant John Patterson

5 May 1864

Unit: 11th U.S. Infantry.  Birthday: 10 February 1843.  Place of Birth: Selkirk, New York.  Date of Death: 5 October 1920.  Place of Burial: Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York.  Entered Service at: New York.  Place of Action: The Wilderness, Virginia.  Date of Issue: 23 July 1897

Citation:  Under heavy fire of the advancing enemy, picked up and carried several hundred yards to a place of safety a wounded officer of his regiment who was helpless and would otherwise have been burned in the forest.

Captain James M. Cutts

1864

Unit: 11th U.S. Infantry.  Birthday: 1838.  Place of Birth: Washington, DC.  Date of Death: 24 February 1903.  Place of Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.  Entered Service at: Providence, RI.  Place of Action: The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg, Virginia.  Date of Issue: 2 May 1891

Citation:  Gallantry in actions.

Sergeant Henry R. Schroeder

14 September 1900

Unit: L Company, 16th U.S. Infantry.  Birthday: 7 December 1874.  Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois.  Date of Death: 26 January 1959.  Place of Burial: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California.  Entered Service at: Chicago, Illinois.  Place of Action: Carig, Philippine Islands.  Date of Issue: 10 March 1902.

Citation:  With 22 men, defeated 400 insurgents, killing 36 and wounding 90.

First Lieutenant Jimmie Montieth

6 June 1944

Unit: L Company, 16th Infantry.  Birthday: 1 July 1917.  Place of Birth: Low Moor, Virginia.  Date of Death: 6 June 1944.  Place of Burial: A.M.B.C. Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.  Entered Service at: Richmond, Virginia.  Place of Action: near Colleville-sur-Mer, France.  GO Number, Date: #20, 29 March 1945  Place of Issue: Presented to Montieth’s family by Brig. Gen. Frank Dorn in Richmond, Virginia.

Citation:  With 22 men, defeated 400 insurgents, killing 36 and wounding 90.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France.  First Lieutenant Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety, he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assault.  He then led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machine-gun fire.  Completely exposed to the intense fire, First Lieutenant Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions.  Under his direction several enemy positions were destroyed.  He then rejoined his company, and under his leadership, his men captured an advantageous position on the hill.  Supervising the defense of his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the two or three hundred yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain.  When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding First Lieutenant Monteith and his unit, and while leading the fight out of the situation, First Lieutenant Monteith was killed by enemy fire.  The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by First Lieutenant Monteith is worthy of emulation.

Technician Fifth Class John J. Pinder, Jr.

6 June 1944

Unit: Headquarters Company, 16th Infantry.  Birthday: 12 June 1912.  Place of Birth: McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.  Date of Death: 6 June 1944.  Place of Burial: Grand View Cemetery, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania.  Entered Service at: Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.  Place of Action: near Colleville-sur-Mer, France.  GO Number, Date: #1, 4 January 1945.

Citation:  For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty an 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France.  On D-day, Technician Fifth Grade Pinder landed on the coast 100 yards off shore under devastating enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, which caused severe casualties among the boatload.  Carrying a vitally important radio, he struggled towards shore in waist-deep water.  Only a few yards from his craft he was hit by enemy fire and was gravely wounded.  Technician Fifth Grade Pinder never stopped.  He made shore and delivered the radio.  Refusing to take cover afforded, or to accept medical attention for his wounds, Technician Fifth Grade Pinder, though terribly weakened by loss of blood and in fierce pain, on three occasions went into the fire-swept surf to salvage communication equipment.  He recovered many vital parts and equipment, including another workable radio.  On the third trip he was again hit, suffering machine-gun bullet wounds in the legs.  Still this valiant soldier would not stop for rest or medical attention. Remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire, growing steadily weaker, he aided in establishing the vital radio communication on the beach.  While so engaged this dauntless soldier was hit for the third time and killed.  The indomitable courage and personal bravery of Technician Fifth Grade Pinder was a magnificent inspiration to the men with whom he served.

Technical Sergeant Jake William Lindsey, Sr.

16 November 1944

Unit: C Company, 16th Infantry.  Birthday: 1 May 1921.  Place of Birth: Isney, Alabama.  Date of Death: 18 July 1988.  Place of Burial: White House Cemetery, Waynesboro, Mississippi.  Entered Service at: Lucedale, Mississippi.  Place of Action: near Hamich, Germany.  GO Number, Date: #43, 30 May 1945. Place/Date of Issue: Presented to Technical Sergeant Lindsey by President Harry S. Truman at a joint session of Congress on 21 May 1945. 

Citation:  For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 16 November 1944, in Germany.  Technical Sergeant Lindsey assumed a position about 10 yards to the front of his platoon during an intense enemy infantry-tank counterattack and, by his unerringly accurate fire, destroyed two enemy machine-gun nests, forced the withdrawal of two tanks, and effectively halted enemy flanking patrols.  Later, although painfully wounded, he engaged eight Germans, who were reestablishing machine-gun positions, in hand-to-hand combat, killing three, capturing three, and causing the other two to flee.  By his gallantry, Technical Sergeant Lindsey secured his unit's position, and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Private Robert T. Henry

6 December 1944

Unit: B Company, 16th Infantry.  Birthday: 27 November 1923.  Place of Birth: Greenville, Mississippi.  Date of Death: 6 December 1944.  Place of Burial: Greenville Cemetery, Greenville, Mississippi.  Entered Service at: Greenville, Mississippi.  Place of Action: Luchem, Germany.  GO Number, Date: #45, 12 June 1945.

Citation:  Near Luchem, Germany, Private Robert T. Henry volunteered to attempt the destruction of a nest of five enemy machine guns located in a bunker 150 yards to the flank, which had stopped the advance of his platoon.  Stripping off his pack, overshoes, helmet, and overcoat, he sprinted alone with his rifle and hand grenades across the open terrain toward the enemy emplacement.  Before he had gone half the distance he was hit by a burst of machine-gun fire.  Dropping his rifle, he continued to stagger forward until he fell mortally wounded only 10 yards from the enemy emplacement.  His single-handed attack forced the enemy to leave their machine-guns. During this break in hostile fire, the platoon moved forward and overran the position.  Private Henry, by his gallantry and intrepidity and utter disregard for his own life, enabled his company to reach its objective, capturing this key defense and 70 German prisoners.

Staff Sergeant James W. Robinson, Jr.

11 April 1966

Unit: C Company, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry.  Birthday: 30 August 1940.  Place of Birth: Hinsdale, Illinois.  Date of Death: 11 April 1966.  Place of Burial: Clarendon Hill Cemetery, Westmont, Illinois.  Entered Service at: Chicago, Illinois.  Place of Action: near Xa Cam My, Republic of  Vietnam.  GO Number, Date: #35, 13 September 1967.  Place/Date of Issue: Presented to Sergeant Robinson’s family by Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor at the Pentagon on 16 July 1967.

Citation:  On April 11, 1966, Company C, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry was engaged in fierce combat with a Viet Cong battalion.  Despite the heavy fire, Sergeant Robinson moved among the men of his fire team, instructing and inspiring them, and placing them in advantageous positions.  Enemy snipers located in nearby trees were inflicting heavy casualties on forward elements of Sergeant Robinson's unit. Upon locating the enemy sniper whose fire was taking the heaviest toll, he took a grenade launcher and eliminated the sniper.  Seeing a medic hit while administering aid to a wounded sergeant in front of his position and aware that now the two wounded men were at the mercy of the enemy, he charged through a withering hail of fire and dragged his comrades to safety, where he rendered first aid and saved their lives.  As the battle continued and casualties mounted, Sergeant Robinson moved about under intense fire to collect from the wounded their weapons and ammunition and redistribute them to able-bodied soldiers.  Adding his own fire to that of his men, he assisted in eliminating a major enemy threat.  Seeing another wounded comrade in front of his position, Sergeant Robinson again defied the enemy’s fire to effect a rescue. In so doing he was himself wounded in the shoulder and leg.  Despite his painful wounds, he dragged the soldier to shelter and saved his life by administering first aid. While patching his own wounds, he spotted an enemy machine gun which had inflicted a number of casualties on the American force.  His rifle ammunition expended, he seized two grenades and, in an act of unsurpassed heroism, charged toward the entrenched enemy weapon.  Hit again in the leg, this time with a tracer round which set fire to his clothing, Sergeant Robinson ripped the burning clothing from his body and staggered indomitably through the enemy fire, now concentrated solely on him, to within grenade range of the enemy machine gun position. Sustaining two additional chest wounds, he marshaled his fleeting physical strength and hurled the two grenades thus destroying the enemy gun position as he fell dead upon the battlefield.  His magnificent display of leadership and bravery saved several lives and inspired his soldiers to defeat a numerically superior enemy force. Sergeant Robinson's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, at the cost of his life, are in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon the lst Infantry Division and the United States Armed Forces.

Platoon Sergeant Matthew Leonard

28 February 1967

Unit: B Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry.  Birthday: 26 November 1929.  Place of Birth: Eutaw, Alabama.  Date of Death: 28 February 1967.  Place of Burial: Shadow Lawn Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama.  Entered Service at: Birmingham, Alabama.  Place of Action: near Suoi Da, Republic of  Vietnam.  GO Number, Date: #9, 9 January 1969.  Place/Date of Issue: Presented to Sergeant Robinson’s family by Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor at the Pentagon on 19 December 1968.

Citation:  Platoon Sergeant Matthew Leonard distinguished himself during combat operations with Company B, lst Battalion, 16th Infantry, near Suoi Da, Republic of Vietnam, on 28 February 1967.  His platoon was suddenly attacked by a large enemy force employing small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenades.  Although the platoon leader and several other key leaders were among the first wounded, Sergeant Leonard quickly rallied his men to throw back the initial enemy assaults.  During the short pause that followed, he organized a defensive perimeter, redistributed ammunition, and inspired his comrades through his forceful leadership and words of encouragement.  Noticing a wounded companion outside the perimeter, he dragged  the man to safety but was struck by a sniper's bullet which shattered his left hand. Refusing medical attention and continuously exposing himself to the increasing fire as the enemy again assaulted the perimeter, Sergeant Leonard moved from position to position to direct the fire of his men against the well camouflaged foe.  Under the cover of the main attack, the enemy moved a machine gun into a location where it could sweep the entire perimeter. This threat was magnified when the platoon machine gun in this area malfunctioned. Sergeant Leonard quickly crawled to the gun position and was helping to clear the malfunction when the gunner and other men in the vicinity were wounded by fire from the enemy machine gun. Sergeant Leonard rose to his feet, charged the enemy gun and destroyed the hostile crew despite being hit several times by enemy fire.  He moved to a tree, propped himself against it, and continued to engage the enemy until he succumbed to his many wounds. His fighting spirit, heroic leadership, and valiant acts inspired the remaining members of his platoon to hold back the enemy until assistance arrived.  Sergeant Leonard's profound courage and devotion to his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and his gallant actions reflect great credit upon him and the United States Army.