Charles W. Garnham

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Charles W. Garnham, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces on 13 June 1944. First Lieutenant Garnham found the east and south walls of the city heavily guarded, so he and his troops instead sneaked to the rear, northern wall and used ladders to climb it and jump onto roofs inside the city. He was first to scale the wall, hurled a grenade into the nearest machine gun nest and destroyed it. When Nazis who survived the blast turned and charged, Lieutenant Garnham shot and killed two of them and wounded a third. During the furious gun fight that followed, he continued to effectively fire his carbine and throw hand grenades for several hours and, though he was seriously wounded in the leg and thigh, captured seven people who’d hidden in a building. His heroic actions enabled U.S. soldiers to capture the city. First Lieutenant Garnham’s intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.