Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    First Regiment

    Division:

    First Special Service Force

    Action Date:

    May 23, 1944

    Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 47 (March 15, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Harvey L. Jergins (ASN: 18088227), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Second Company, First Regiment, First Special Service Force, in action against the enemy near Anzio, Italy, on 23 May 1944. When his company was protecting the right flank of the Force as it made the initial assault and breakthrough from the beachhead, Sergeant Jergins, as an automatic rifleman, accounted for eleven enemy killed during the advance up a canal. As the attack reached a point about 200 yards short of a highway, the company was subjected to deadly cross fire of two enemy machine guns, pinning the company down. With absolute disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Jergins and his assistant gunner assaulted the nearest machine gun. So accurate was his fire that two of the crew were killed and the remainder wounded by hand grenades. With the position silenced, Sergeant Jergins assaulted the second position, firing his automatic rifle from the hip as he walked forward. His fire was so intense, the enemy could not man its gun, resulted in the killing our wounding of the entire enemy crew of six. The fearless actions of Sergeant Jergins played an important part in the successful drive and reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.