Homer Lee Wise

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Homer L. Wise, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 14 June 1944, while serving with Company L, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action at Magliano, Italy. While his platoon was pinned down by enemy small-arms fire from both flanks, Staff Sergeant Wise left his position of comparative safety and assisted in carrying one of his men, who had been seriously wounded and who lay in an exposed position, to a point where he could receive medical attention. The advance of the platoon was resumed but was again stopped by enemy frontal fire. A German officer and two enlisted men, armed with automatic weapons, threatened the right flank. Fearlessly exposing himself, he moved to a position from which he killed all three with his submachine gun. Returning to his squad, he obtained an M-1 rifle and several antitank grenades, then took up a position from which he delivered accurate fire on the enemy holding up the advance. As the battalion moved forward it was again stopped by enemy frontal and flanking fire. He procured an automatic rifle and, advancing ahead of his men, neutralized an enemy machinegun with his fire. When the flanking fire became more intense he ran to a nearby tank and exposing himself on the turret, restored a jammed machinegun to operating efficiency and used it so effectively that the enemy fire from an adjacent ridge was materially reduced thus permitting the battalion to occupy its objective.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 90, December 8, 1944

Action Date: June 14, 1944

Service: Army

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Company: Company L

Regiment: 142d Infantry Regiment

Division: 36th Infantry Division