Chris Carr

Five German machine-gun positions stood between Company L and its objective. Sergeant Chris Carr attacked them one by one, advancing alone through intense enemy fire in one of the most extraordinary acts of infantry courage during the Italian Campaign of World War II.

Born Christos H. Karaberis in Manchester, New Hampshire, on 6 April 1914, Carr entered the United States Army in October 1942. By October 1944, he was serving as a sergeant with Company L, 337th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division. On 1 and 2 October 1944, near Guignola, Italy, his platoon was pinned down by German mortars, machine guns, machine pistols, and rifle fire. Recognizing that the enemy positions had halted his company's advance, Carr moved around the enemy's left flank and launched a series of daring attacks. He captured five machine-gun positions, killed eight German soldiers, and took 22 prisoners. His extraordinary initiative cleared the ridge toward Casoni di Remagna and enabled his battalion to occupy important commanding ground.

For this extraordinary heroism, Carr received the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration of the United States. His award was authorized under War Department General Orders No. 97, dated 1 November 1945, under his birth name, Christos H. Karaberis. On 12 October 1945, President Harry S. Truman personally presented the medal to him at the White House. Carr was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in Italy, with the 337th Infantry's wartime general-orders index recording the award date as 9 October 1944. His recorded military honours also include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars, World War II Victory Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. His highest attained Army rank was Sergeant First Class.

Following the war, Karaberis legally changed his name to Chris Carr, and the Army amended his military records to reflect that change. His story remains a powerful example of individual courage, determination, and initiative under fire. Chris Carr died on 16 September 1970 and was laid to rest at Los Angeles National Cemetery in California. His Medal of Honor citation preserves the remarkable story of the infantryman whose single-handed assault broke through five enemy machine-gun positions and helped turn a stalled advance into a decisive battlefield success.