Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    134th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    35th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    August 8, 1944

    Headquarters, 35th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 27 (August 29, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Verlyn J. Carpenter (ASN: 20721477), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action in the **** Sector, Normandy, France, on 8 August 1944. While engaged in an attack against the enemy, the 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry was suddenly cut off and surrounded by enemy tanks and paratroopers, and its anti-tank guns were neutralized. Sergeant Carpenter, together with another soldier, voluntarily established contact with an attached tank destroyer unit, by making his way a distance of some four miles through the enemy lines, in an area infested with snipers and subjected to heavy enemy fire, to reach the tank destroyers. The tank destroyer unit reached the 1st Battalion position in time to eliminate the enemy tank opposition. The courage, tenacity of purpose, resourcefulness and disregard for personal safety on the part of Sergeant Carpenter, directly resulted in obtaining much needed reinforcements, and enabled his battalion to reorganize and proceed on its mission. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.