Stephen Raymond Gregg

Fought uphill under fire to rescue seven wounded US soldiers

Stephen Raymond Gregg exchanged shipyard work for infantry combat in World War II. Born in New York on 1 September 1914 and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey, he entered the United States Army in 1942. He served in the Italian campaign with the 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, before taking part in the invasion of southern France.

Near Montélimar on 27 August 1944, Gregg was a technical sergeant in Company L when his platoon's advance met close-range German resistance. Seven wounded Americans could not be reached by a medic. Gregg carried a light machine gun up the hill, covering the medic as he brought them to safety. Briefly held at gunpoint after exhausting his ammunition, Gregg escaped when a fellow soldier intervened and helped the platoon reach its objective. The next day, he directed mortar fire against a counterattack and recovered a mortar position taken by German troops.

Gregg received a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant in January 1945. Lieutenant General Alexander Patch presented his Medal of Honor in France on 14 March 1945. After returning to Bayonne, Gregg worked for the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department for 51 years, retiring as chief of court officers. He died at home on 4 February 2005, aged ninety, and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, New Jersey.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 27 August 1944, in the vicinity of Montelimar, France. As his platoon advanced upon the enemy positions; the leading scout was fired upon and 2d Lt. Gregg (then a Tech. Sergeant.) immediately put his machineguns into action to cover the advance of the riflemen. The Germans, who were at close range, threw hand grenades at the riflemen, killing some and wounding 7. Each time a medical aid man attempted to reach the wounded, the Germans fired at him. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, 2d Lt. Gregg took 1 of the light .30-caliber machineguns, and firing from the hip, started boldly up the hill with the medical aid man following him.

Although the enemy was throwing hand grenades at him, 2d Lt. Gregg remained and fired into the enemy positions while the medical aid man removed the 7 wounded men to safety. When 2d Lt. Gregg had expended all his ammunition, he was covered by 4 Germans who ordered him to surrender. Since the attention of most of the Germans had been diverted by watching this action, friendly riflemen were able to maneuver into firing positions. One, seeing 2d Lt. Gregg's situation, opened fire on his captors. The 4 Germans hit the ground and thereupon 2d Lt. Gregg recovered a machine pistol from one of the Germans and managed to escape to his other machinegun positions. He manned a gun, firing at his captors, killed 1 of them and wounded the other. This action so discouraged the Germans that the platoon was able to continue its advance up the hill to achieve its objective.

The following morning, just prior to daybreak, the Germans launched a strong attack, supported by tanks, in an attempt to drive Company L from the hill. As these tanks moved along the valley and their foot troops advanced up the hill, 2d Lt. Gregg immediately ordered his mortars into action. During the day by careful observation, he was able to direct effective fire on the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. By late afternoon he had directed 600 rounds when his communication to the mortars was knocked out. Without hesitation he started checking his wires, although the area was under heavy enemy small arms and artillery fire. When he was within 100 yards of his mortar position, 1 of his men informed him that the section had been captured and the Germans were using the mortars to fire on the company. 2d Lt. Gregg with this man and another nearby rifleman started for the gun position where he could see 5 Germans firing his mortars. He ordered the 2 men to cover him, crawled up, threw a hand grenade into the position, and then charged it. The hand grenade killed 1, injured 2, 2d Lt. Gregg took the other 2 prisoners, and put his mortars back into action.