Leo J. Powers

He cleared three pillboxes on the way to Cassino

Leo J. Powers was born at Anselmo, Nebraska, on 5 April 1909. He later lived in Montana, where he worked as a farmer before he was drafted at Alder Gulch in September 1942. Older than many of his fellow infantrymen, he became known as Pop. He served in Company L, 133rd Infantry, 34th Infantry Division.

On 3 February 1944, northwest of Cassino in Italy, his company attacked Hill 175. About fifty enemy soldiers, supported by machine guns in three pillboxes and mortar fire from behind the hill, stopped the advance and inflicted casualties.

Powers, then a private first class, crawled forward alone with hand grenades. Standing briefly in full view of the defenders, he threw a grenade through the opening of the first pillbox, silencing its machine gun. When another position stopped the advance, he repeated the manoeuvre at close range and put that weapon out of action as well.

He then worked his way to the third pillbox under heavy fire. Again exposing himself to throw through its opening, he destroyed the position with grenades. Four wounded defenders emerged and surrendered to him when he had no weapons remaining. His successive attacks broke the strongpoint and enabled the regiment to advance towards Cassino.

President Franklin Roosevelt presented his Medal of Honor in Washington on 10 January 1945. Powers survived the war and reached the rank of sergeant. He returned to civilian life in Montana and died in July 1967. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery at Butte. His decoration records individual initiative in a battle remembered for the difficulty of its terrain and the strength of its defences.