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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSgt. George D. Keathley '37 Medal of Honor Sergeant George D. Keathley '37 h A Handful of Custermen The massive offensive to liberate Rome had come at a dreadful price. Allied casualties during the drive to take the city totaled 40,000 dead, wounded or missing. The Germans had lost over 38,000. In early June of 1944, the German Army was in retreat as V , At. Allied troops entered the Italian capital. The moment of triumph was all too fleeting, however, as the world's attention would be diverted to the Allied landing in Normandy. r<. r1 For the beleaguered Allied soldiers, the Romans offering of = n wine, fruit and flowers was short as they continued their march . . north following the German retreat. In the peak of the northern , Apennines, one hundred and fifty-five miles north of Rome, General Kesselring's engineers worked feverishly on the Gothic 1~ d' { Ott Line in an attempt to stall the Allied progress. If fortified enough, / G , r 'i' the Gothic Line would allow the Gennans to buy time and possibly stop the Allies for the winter. As the months went by, the Allies made their push north toward r' the Gothic Line. In August, seven first-rate Allied divisions were withdrawn from Italy for the invasion of southern France including; the U.S. 3rd, 36th and 45th divisions. The Allies were left with 20 divisions facing the 22 German divisions. Standard military tactics dictates that attacking troops require a 3-to-I numerical superiority at the point of breakthrough to crack a well defended line. A bas rc1i(A'bronzcNCL11j)tL11-C 11,11111S in the San(lers Corps Center. } United In 1933, George Dennis Keathley '37 enrolled in Texas A&M and was assigned to Troop "D" Cavalry, pictured above. He had to withdraw from A&M in the spring of 1935 as did many students during the Great Depression. Keathley volunteered for induction in the States Army and entered 1942 service in May 85th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. By 1944, he had the rank of Staff Sergeant in I st Platoon of B Company. 121 the C -d"n TEXAS AGGIL CORPS OF CADLTS ASSOCIATION By 13 September, the Fifth II CORPS ATTACK ON THE GOTHIC LINE J, Rad - Army arrived at the Gothic Line 0-18 September 1944 a _ Front Line. 10 Se and met well prepared defenses. _r~ Front Line 18 Sep r There were only two mountain A hed Ax s of Advance t--- Adnnmwal-Move rOT iKIP: 1:N Ill passes that would allow troops ARMY 1 r~~ rl! I VAIION IN METERS to to continue towards Bologna F e =~nla o soo 600 400 12on Tii1 Ahove }h - - and onto Florence, Futa Pass and Il Giogo Pass on a secondary road. It was decided that the pau main effort would be towards II Giogo Pass. This route was S t., I I I r711 , no wider than a rural road, had sharp curves and allowed for direct observation by German gunners on both sides. On 14 September 1944, the 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th - R''I' Infantry Division, or "Custer" 'J Division, was committed to T:TU, Div a I the attack on Mount Altuzzo, 11st IM, the height that covered the l/7 t> SanPietro \nnd Div right side of the narrow pass. The cutting edge over ? 34I;' Y _ ,/fn` H1 Dn \ 250,000 men, had been reduced to small groups of infantrymen j9''a85t11 S } D7 making attacks. The assault R r ~ra o , - . 8th on Mount Altuzzo on the west flank included the troops of Company B of the 338th. The advance onto the western slope This map shows the 11 Pass with Monte ' on the east side. of the mountain knocked out numerous pillboxes and machine stop Keathley and lie rose to his feet, steadied his rifle and began gun positions. However, Company B was soon pinned down firing, killing an attacking enemy soldier. Throughout this attack by intense automatic weapons and mortar fire. Casualties were he continued shouting orders and encouragement to his men. His extremely heavy in the company and eventually all officers were courageous actions so inspired his troops that they fought with dead or wounded. The remnants of the company were continually incomparable determination and viciousness. being hit by German counterattacks as they inched their way to the crest of Monte Altuzzo. The company was reduced to less than 20 For fifteen solid minutes, Keathley continued leading his men and j men. Staff Sergeant George D. Keathley '37 was the only non- effectively firing his rifle. At any time, Keathley could have sought com remaining among the handful of Custermen on the hillside, so a protected position and perhaps save his own life, but instead he set he took command of both the second and third platoons an example for his men and made every effort to hold his position. Finally, friendly artillery fire helped the Germans to withdraw, The remnants of the two platoons were low on ammunition. leaving their dead and seriously wounded. Keathley died a few Sgt. Keathley, under deadly small arms and mortar fire, crawled moments later. from one casualty to another and collected ammunition. He also administered first aid when he could. He gave his men words of He showed incomparable heroism, bravery and courage. Company encouragement as he issued the ammunition he collected from B might'well have been lost completely by the overwhelming enemy the dead and wounded. The Germans then delivered a fourth attacking force. However, Keathley's actions were in keeping with ~I counterattack, which was approximately two companies in strength. the motto ofhis regiment, Marchons or "March On!". The Custermen In a furious charge they attacked from the front and both flanks, of the 338th broke the back of the German resistance at the pass throwing hand grenades, firing automatic weapons while being and with the combined effort of the 91st Infantry Division on the assisted by a terrific mortar barrage. The enemy counterattack was opposite sloops of Mount Monticelli. The breach of the Gothic Line so strong that the remnants of Company B were given up for lost. gave Fifth Army passage north in the Apennines Mountains. The remaining soldiers of the second and third platoons were now looking to Sgt. Keathley for leadership. For his actions, Keathley was posthumously awarded the Medal ~I of Honor on I 1 April 1945. The medal was presented to his wife The Germans continuously tried to drive a wedge into Keathley's at a ceremony at Camp Wolters, Texas, by Major General Bruce position, but were repeatedly driven back, suffering heavy casualties Magruder. Sergeant Keathley is buried in the American Cemetery in the process. Suddenly a German hand grenade exploded near near Florence, Italy. Keathley and inflicted a mortal wound in his left side. This did not Special thanks go to COL (Ret.) James Woodall '50 for his help and inspiration on these articles.