Kenneth E. Gruennert

He stormed two bunkers despite wounds and intense enemy fire

Kenneth E. Gruennert was born at Helenville, Wisconsin, on 19 November 1922. He attended Jefferson High School and joined the Wisconsin National Guard while still a teenager. Federal mobilization brought him into the Army on 15 October 1940, before the United States entered the Second World War. He served with Company L, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, and became a sergeant.

The division deployed to the southwest Pacific and fought in the difficult Buna campaign in New Guinea. On 24 December 1942 Gruennert was second in command of a platoon trying to penetrate Japanese positions near Buna. Two concealed enemy emplacements blocked its advance and threatened heavy casualties. He went forward alone against the first, using grenades and rifle fire to kill three defenders and put the position out of action.

Although seriously wounded in that assault, he dressed his injuries under cover and continued against the second emplacement. His grenades drove the Japanese defenders out, creating an opening for his platoon. Enemy snipers then killed him. His actions helped the men behind him continue their advance through the fortified area.

Gruennert's Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously for this fighting under the order of 11 October 1943. His parents declined a presentation trip because they believed its expense should instead support the war effort. His remains were returned to Wisconsin and buried in Evergreen Cemetery at Helenville. The Endl-Gruennert Veterans of Foreign Wars post at Jefferson commemorates him together with another local Medal of Honor recipient. His family later donated his Medal of Honor to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, which announced the donation in December 2013.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 24 December 1942, near Buna, New Guinea, Sergeant Gruennert was second in command of a platoon with a mission to drive through the enemy lines to the beach 600 yards ahead. Within 150 yards of the objective the platoon encountered two hostile pillboxes. Sergeant Gruennert advanced alone on the first and put it out of action with hand grenades and rifle fire, killing three of the enemy. Seriously wounded in the shoulder, he bandaged his wound under cover of the pillbox, refusing to withdraw to the aid station and leave his men. He then, with undiminished daring and under extremely heavy fire, attacked the second pillbox. As he neared it he threw grenades which forced the enemy out where they were easy targets for his platoon. Before the leading elements of his platoon could reach him he was shot by enemy snipers. His inspiring valor cleared the way for his platoon which was the first to attain the beach in this successful effort to split the enemy position.