Lucian Adams

Destroyed three machine guns to reopen a severed supply line

Lucian Adams was born at Port Arthur, Texas, on 26 October 1922, one of twelve children in a Mexican American family. He left school to help support the family and worked at a plant building landing craft before entering the Army in 1943. He served with Company I, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, fighting in Italy and southern France. His conduct in Italy brought the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

On 28 October 1944 Staff Sergeant Adams's company was advancing through the Mortagne Forest near Saint-Dié, France, to reopen a supply route to isolated troops. Heavy German fire stopped the advance almost immediately, killing three Americans and wounding six. Adams borrowed a Browning Automatic Rifle and moved forward alone, using trees for cover while firing from the hip.

He approached the first machine gun and killed its operator with a grenade. He then shot another enemy soldier throwing grenades at him, destroyed a second machine gun and forced two infantrymen to surrender. Continuing despite concentrated fire, he killed additional defenders and silenced a third machine gun with his automatic rifle. His assault broke the defended position and reopened the supply route.

Lieutenant General Alexander Patch presented Adams with the Medal of Honor, awarded for his lone assault, at Nuremberg's Zeppelin Stadium on 23 April 1945. After the war Adams returned to Texas and worked for the Veterans Administration, helping other former servicemen for more than four decades before retiring in 1986. He died in San Antonio on 31 March 2003 and was buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. A school in Port Arthur bears his name.