15MAR1945: Moving with his unit through a forest near Mertzwiller, France, PFC Silvestre Herrera and his men were pinned down by German machine gun fire. The enemy position was dug in and protected behind a minefield. Seeing that his men were stuck, Herrera got up and charged, throwing grenades and firing his rifle as he went. Herrera came upon the emplacement and quickly captured 8 German soldiers by himself. Returning with his prisoners, his unit continued mission. Later that day, his men were again pinned down. Once more, Hererra charged as he had done previously. This time he stepped on a mine, shattering his leg. Standing back up and continuing to advance on his one good leg, he shortly thereafter stepped on a second mine severing his other leg below the knee. Despite his wounds and now bleeding out, Herrera laid in the prone position and began laying down fire towards the enemy. Herrera suppressed the enemy position long enough for his unit to maneuver around and overrun the emplacement. Evacuated that day, Herrera would survive the war and be awarded the Medal of Honor in August of 1945.

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