Carl V. Sheridan

### The final rocket at Frenzenberg Castle

On 26 November 1944, Company K of the 47th Infantry fought its way through artillery and mortar fire to Frenzenberg Castle near Weisweiler, Germany. The Americans seized two buildings in the courtyard, but only 35 men remained effective against roughly 70 German paratroopers holding the stone gatehouse. A deep, water-filled moat and a barricaded oak door blocked the way into the strongpoint.

Private First Class Carl Vernon Sheridan, the company’s bazooka gunner, had already gone back under fire to collect extra rockets after his ammunition bearer was wounded. Now he crossed the exposed courtyard alone, carrying the weapon that could breach the gatehouse door. His first two rockets weakened the heavy planks but did not open a gap. He loaded his last round, aimed carefully, and blasted an entrance. Calling his company forward, he charged through with his pistol firing. He was killed by the defenders’ fire, but the assault that followed entered through the breach he had made.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 5 January 1925, Sheridan was 19 years old when he died. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for an action that made the final assault possible. His award was presented to his father, Charles E. Sheridan, on 8 June 1945. He is buried at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville, Maryland.

### Medal of Honor citation

“Attached to the 2d Battalion of the 47th Infantry on 26 November 1944, for the attack on Frenzenberg Castle, in the vicinity of Weisweiler, Germany, Company K, after an advance of 1,000 yards through a shattering barrage of enemy artillery and mortar fire, had captured two 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, had 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 Frenzenberg Castle was made through the gap which Pfc. Sheridan gave his life to create.”

### Sources

- Congressional Medal of Honor Society. “Carl Vernon Sheridan.” Recipient profile and official citation. - U.S. Army. “Sheridan, Carl V.” World War II Medal of Honor citations, M–S index. General Orders No. 43, 30 May 1945.