Gus Kefurt

Held his platoon's position despite wounds and enemy attacks

On 23 December 1944, Staff Sergeant Gus Kefurt led men of Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, through close fighting at Bennwihr, France. He captured German defenders and directed artillery against an enemy tank. That night he maintained a small isolated outpost despite enemy pressure.

The following morning he led his platoon forward and used rifle grenades to force a tank crew to surrender. As his men held an exposed position, he moved among them under fire to direct their defence. Wounded in the leg, he refused treatment and evacuation and continued fighting. His leadership and determination earned the Medal of Honor posthumously.

Kefurt was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and served as an infantry noncommissioned officer during the European campaign of the Second World War. His official citation records repeated acts of courage across two days of combat.