Kenneth E. Gruennert
Encyclopedia
Kenneth E. Gruennert was a United States Army
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
—for his actions in World War II
.
, on November 19, 1922, Gruennert attended Jefferson High School in nearby Jefferson
. During high school he played football
and was captain of the school's championship-winning team. At age 16, he enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard from Helenville and served in the 32nd Infantry Division.
The 32nd Division was federalized in 1940, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor
the unit began training for combat. By December 24, 1942, Gruennert was serving in New Guinea
as a sergeant with Company L of the 127th Infantry Regiment. On that day, near the village of Buna
, he was second-in-command of a platoon
tasked with advancing through Japan
ese positions to a beach 600 yards (548.6 m) ahead. When they came upon a Japanese bunker
, Gruennert single-handedly attacked and silenced the position. Although seriously wounded, he refused medical evacuation and successfully attacked a second bunker, but was killed by sniper
s immediately after. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on October 11, 1943.
Gruennert, aged 20 at his death, was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in his hometown of Helenville.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
—for his actions in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Born in Helenville, WisconsinHelenville, Wisconsin
Helenville is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 249 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Helenville is located at ....
, on November 19, 1922, Gruennert attended Jefferson High School in nearby Jefferson
Jefferson, Wisconsin
Jefferson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, and is its county seat. It is located at the confluence of the Rock and Crawfish Rivers. The population was 7,338 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Jefferson.-History:...
. During high school he played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and was captain of the school's championship-winning team. At age 16, he enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard from Helenville and served in the 32nd Infantry Division.
The 32nd Division was federalized in 1940, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
the unit began training for combat. By December 24, 1942, Gruennert was serving in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
as a sergeant with Company L of the 127th Infantry Regiment. On that day, near the village of Buna
Buna, Papua New Guinea
Buna is a village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It was the site in part, of the Battle of Buna-Gona during World War II, when it constituted a variety of native huts and a handful of houses with a airstrip...
, he was second-in-command of a platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
tasked with advancing through Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese positions to a beach 600 yards (548.6 m) ahead. When they came upon a Japanese bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
, Gruennert single-handedly attacked and silenced the position. Although seriously wounded, he refused medical evacuation and successfully attacked a second bunker, but was killed by sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
s immediately after. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on October 11, 1943.
Gruennert, aged 20 at his death, was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in his hometown of Helenville.
Medal of Honor citation
Sergeant Gruennert's official Medal of Honor citation reads:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 24 December 1942, near Buna, New Guinea, Sgt. Gruennert was second in command of a platoon with a mission to drive through the enemy lines to the beach 600 yards ahead. Within 150 yards of the objective, the platoon encountered 2 hostile pillboxes. Sgt. Gruennert advanced alone on the first and put it out of action with hand grenadeHand grenadeA hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
s and rifle fire, killing 3 of the enemy. Seriously wounded in the shoulder, he bandaged his wound under cover of the pillbox, refusing to withdraw to the aid station and leave his men. He then, with undiminished daring, and under extremely heavy fire, attacked the second pillbox. As he neared it he threw grenades which forced the enemy out where they were easy targets for his platoon. Before the leading elements of his platoon could reach him he was shot by enemy snipers. His inspiring valor cleared the way for his platoon which was the first to attain the beach in this successful effort to split the enemy position.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II