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Simpson, Oscar

Nationality:
American

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Staff Sergeant (Sergeant-Major)
Unit:
Company L, 370th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Armored Division "Old Ironsides", U.S. Army
The Silver Star is presented to Staff Sergeant Oscar Simpson for action performed on 22 October 1944, in the vicinity of Mount Strettoia in the Province of Lucca, Tuscany region, Italy.
"Staff Sergeant Simpson's platoon was suddenly fired upon by an enemy gun from the rear. Under cover of counter fire by one of his officers and assisted by another member of his platoon Staff Sergeant Simpson elected to attempt to knock out the enemy weapon. Exposing himself, he moved in on the enemy, killing one, and forcing the other to surrender, thus enabling his platoon to continue in its advance."
Silver Star Medal (SSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Staff Sergeant (Sergeant-Major)
Unit:
Company L, 370th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division, U.S. Army
The Silver Star is presented to Staff Sergeant Oscar Simpson for action performed on 8 February, 1945 in the vicinity of Mount Strettoia in the Province of Lucca, Tuscany region, Italy.
"On 8 February, Staff Sergeant Simpson, a squad leader, was assigned the mission of protecting his company's left flank. During the assault, two other platoons of the Company became pinned down by enemy machine gun fire from well emplaced enemy dugouts. Sergeant Simpson, moving his squad on the right flank, was unaware of the platoons being held-up and continued up the slope. Half-way up, he received enemy fire from an enemy bunker. Quickly he, single handed and armed only with two hand grenades, assaulted the enemy bunker. He threw in a hand grenade and one enemy soldier surrendered; he prepared to throw the other when eight others piled out of the dugout, all surrendering to Staff Sergeant Simpson. In the dugout, he found American equipment and ammunition, and captured three enemy machine guns and five enemy rifles."

This award was obtained in the form of an Oak Leave to be attached to the ribbon of the first award.
Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Sources

  • - Hargrove, H.B., Buffalo Soldiers in Italy: Black Americans in World War II, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, 2003

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