George B. Turner

George Benton Turner was a United States Army soldier who received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his extraordinary heroism during World War II. Serving as a Private First Class in Battery C, 499th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 14th Armored Division, Turner distinguished himself during intense combat operations in Phillippsbourg, France, on January 3, 1945.

When his artillery unit was cut off by an enemy armored infantry attack, Turner single-handedly confronted two German tanks and approximately seventy-five supporting foot soldiers. Utilizing a rocket launcher and later a machine gun, he destroyed one tank, disabled another, and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy infantry, successfully breaking up their assault. During the subsequent American counterattack, Turner continued his heroic actions by holding off the enemy with a light machine gun to allow the crews of disabled vehicles to escape, and even attempted a rescue from a burning tank where he was painfully wounded.

Despite his injuries, Turner refused evacuation and remained with the infantry until the following day, helping drive off an enemy patrol, assisting in capturing a hostile strong point, and driving a truck through heavy enemy fire to transport wounded men to the rear. For his actions, Turner was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman, who remarked during the presentation that he would rather have that medal than be president. Turner was the only soldier from the 14th Armored Division to receive the Medal of Honor during the war.