Dirk J. Vlug

Destroying five tanks alone near Limon on Leyte

Dirk J. Vlug earned the Medal of Honor near Limon, Leyte, on 15 December 1944. A private first class with the 126th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division, he left cover to confront tanks attacking an American roadblock. Carrying a rocket launcher and six rounds, Vlug loaded and fired alone under enemy fire. He also used his pistol when a tank crew tried to attack him. He destroyed five tanks, with the last vehicle crashing down an embankment, and helped secure his battalion’s mission.

Medal of Honor citation

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when an American roadblock on the Ormoc Road was attacked by a group of enemy tanks. He left his covered position and, with a rocket launcher and six rounds of ammunition, advanced alone under intense machine-gun and 37-mm fire. Loading singlehandedly, he destroyed the first tank, killing its occupants with a single round. As the crew of the second tank started to dismount and attack him, he killed one of the foe with his pistol, forcing the survivors to return to their vehicle, which he then destroyed with a second round. Three more hostile tanks moved up the road, so he flanked the first and eliminated it, and then, despite a hail of enemy fire, pressed forward again to destroy another. With his last round of ammunition he struck the remaining vehicle, causing it to crash down a steep embankment. Through his sustained heroism in the face of superior forces, Pfc. Vlug alone destroyed five enemy tanks and greatly facilitated successful accomplishment of his battalion's mission.