Lt. Raymond Zussman, Medal of Honor

United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Raymond Zussman, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company A, 756th Tank Battalion, 3d Infantry Division. On 12 September 1944, Second Lieutenant Zussman was in command of two tanks operating with an infantry company in the attack on enemy forces occupying the town of Noroy le Bourg, France. At 7 p.m., his command tank bogged down. Throughout the ensuing action, armed only with a carbine, he reconnoitered alone on foot far in advance of his remaining tank and the infantry. Returning only from time to time to designate targets, he directed the action of the tank and turned over to the infantry the numerous German soldiers he had caused to surrender. He located a road block and directed his tanks to destroy it. Fully exposed to fire from enemy positions only 50 yards distant, he stood by his tank directing its fire. Three Germans were killed and eight surrendered. Again he walked before his tank, leading it against an enemy-held group of houses, machinegun and small arms fire kicking up dust at his feet. The tank fire broke the resistance and 20 enemy surrendered. Going forward again alone he passed an enemy-occupied house from which Germans fired on him and threw grenades in his path. After a brief fire fight, he signaled his tank to come up and fire on the house. Eleven German soldiers were killed and 15 surrendered. Going on alone, he disappeared around a street corner. The fire of his carbine could be heard and in a few minutes he reappeared driving 30 prisoners before him. Under Second Lieutenant Zussman's heroic and inspiring leadership, 18 enemy soldiers were killed and 92 captured.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 42, May 24, 1945

Action Date: 12-Sep-44

Service: Army

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Company: Company A

Battalion: 756th Tank Battalion

Division: 3d Infantry Division

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3078/zussman-raymond.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Zussman

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7977418

http://fallhiker-herosandrolemodels.blogspot.com/2010/06/2nd-lt-ray...

The Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) Training Site at Fort Knox, KY is named in honor of Raymond Zussman