19 Nov 1944

France
  • East of Bourgaltroff, France, the advancing A Company of the 761st Tank Battalion ran into stiff German resistance. The Company commander, Captain David Williams, ordered a retreat. Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers in the lead tank reported that he could see the German tanks holding the American column down. Holding his position with another tank and firing on the German tanks, the remaining Americans were able to effect their withdrawal. Rivers' tank, however, received a direct hit that killed Sergeant Rivers. Over 50 years later, Rivers would be awarded the Medal of Honor for these actions. ww2dbase [Advance to the Saar | Ruben Rivers | Bourgaltroff, Lorraine | DS]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
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