Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Technician 4th Grade (T-4)

Unit:

Company D, 760th Tank Battalion, 88th Infantry Division "Fighting Blue Devils", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

June 6th, 1944

Technician Fourth Grade J.C. (IO) Byrd, 14019771, Company D, 760th Tank Battalion. On 19 March 1944, near Cassino, Italy, at about 17:15 hours, Technician Fourth Grade Byrd, tank driver, volunteered to drive a tank on a mission to evacuate wounded men from a disabled tank which had been immobilized by the rocky terrain. The area across which he drove his tank to reach the disabled tank was rocky and was filled with shell holes, and was at the time under heavy mortar fire, artillery and small arms fire. Some enemy gun positions were within fifty yards of the disabled tank. Technician Fourth Grade Byrd’s skilful driving across treacherous terrain made it possible for him to evacuate two men who were wounded to a place of safety. His skilful driving and courage under fire typifies the finest traditions of the United States Army. Entered the military service from Turley, Tennessee.

Headquarters 88th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 27 (6 June 1944).