Henry M. Hartman

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Henry M. Hartman (6913347), Corporal [then Private First Class], U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company A, 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, on 24 January 1945, at about 1000 Hours, in the vicinity of ******, France. On that date, the Infantry which Corporal Hartman’s Platoon was supporting was met by fanatical resistance of German infantry supported by six enemy tanks. His destroyer was maneuvered into an exposed position, artillery and mortar shells struck within 15 yards and fragments and bullets ricocheted off the sides of the destroyer, yet Corporal Hartman, gunner, heedless of the grave danger, calmly took three well-aimed shots which found their targets, set three enemy tanks aflame, destroying their crews, and forced the crews of the other three German tanks to abandon them, and be killed or captured by friendly infantry. Corporal Hartman’s courageous and skillful action was largely responsible for thwarting the enemy armored attack.