Carlos C. Ogden

Wounded twice, he silenced the guns blocking a vital assault

Carlos Carnes Ogden grew up in Fairmount, Illinois, and attended Eastern Illinois University. Drafted in 1941, he received a commission the following year and reached France with the 79th Infantry Division in 1944.

On 25 June, near Fort du Roule at Cherbourg, First Lieutenant Ogden took command of Company K, 314th Infantry, after its commander was wounded. An 88-millimetre gun and two machine guns halted the advance. Ogden moved forward alone with his rifle, grenade launcher and hand grenades. A bullet struck his head, but he continued, destroyed the gun emplacement and silenced both machine guns. Wounded again, he inspired his company to resume the attack. Lieutenant General Alexander Patch presented his Medal of Honor in Germany on 30 May 1945.

Ogden remained in the Army until 1947, leaving as a major. Settling in California, he worked for the Veterans Administration, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and the state's Selective Service organisation. He also represented veterans at commemorative events and supported youth activities. He died on 2 April 2001 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

On the morning of 25 June 1944, near Fort du Roule, guarding the approaches to Cherbourg, France, 1st Lt. Ogden’s company was pinned down by fire from a German 88-mm. gun and 2 machineguns. Arming himself with an M-1 rifle, a grenade launcher, and a number of rifle and handgrenades, he left his company in position and advanced alone, under fire, up the slope toward the enemy emplacements. Struck on the head and knocked down by a glancing machinegun bullet, 1st Lt. Ogden, in spite of his painful wound and enemy fire from close range, continued up the hill. Reaching a vantage point, he silenced the 88mm. gun with a well-placed rifle grenade and then, with handgrenades, knocked out the 2 machineguns, again being painfully wounded. 1st Lt. Ogden’s heroic leadership and indomitable courage in alone silencing these enemy weapons inspired his men to greater effort and cleared the way for the company to continue the advance and reach its objectives.