Isadore S. Jachman

Advancing alone against tanks to protect his company

Isadore S. Jachman received the Medal of Honor for stopping an armored attack in Belgium during World War II. Born in Berlin, Germany, on December 14, 1922, he served as a staff sergeant in Company B, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division.

On January 4, 1945, at Flamierge, his company was pinned down by artillery, mortar and small-arms fire when two enemy tanks attacked. Jachman left cover, crossed open ground and took a bazooka from a fallen comrade. Advancing alone, he damaged one tank and forced both to withdraw. He suffered fatal wounds, but his action disrupted the attack on his company.

His posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his parents, Leo and Leah Jachman, at Fort George Meade on July 24, 1950. He was buried in Adath Israel Anshe Sfard Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. His award commemorates decisive courage in defense of his fellow paratroopers.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at Flamierge, Belgium on 4 January 1945, when his company was pinned down by enemy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, two hostile tanks attacked the unit, inflicting heavy casualties. S/Sgt. Jachman, seeing the desperate plight of his comrades, left his place of cover and with total disregard for his own safety dashed across open ground through a hail of fire and, seizing a bazooka from a fallen comrade, advanced on the tanks, which concentrated their fire on him. Firing the weapon alone, he damaged one and forced both to retire. S/Sgt. Jachman's heroic action, in which he suffered fatal wounds, disrupted the entire enemy attack, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the parachute infantry.