Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    175th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    29th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    September 13, 1944

    War Department, General Orders No. 31 (April 17, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Sherwood H. Hallman (ASN: 33479009), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. On 13 September 1944, in Brittany, France, the 2d Battalion in its attack on the fortified city of Brest was held up by a strongly defended enemy position which had prevented its advance despite repeated attacks extending over a three-day period. Finally, Company F advanced to within several hundred yards of the enemy position but was again halted by intense fire. Realizing that the position must be neutralized without delay, Staff Sergeant Hallman ordered his squad to cover his movements with fire while he advanced alone to a point from which he could make the assault. Without hesitating, Staff Sergeant Hallman leaped over a hedgerow into a sunken road, the central point of the German defenses which was known to contain an enemy machinegun position and at least 30 enemy riflemen. Firing his carbine and hurling grenades, Staff Sergeant Hallman, unassisted, killed or wounded four of the enemy, then ordered the remainder to surrender. Immediately, 12 of the enemy surrendered and the position was shortly secured by the remainder of his company. Seeing the surrender of this position, about 75 of the enemy in the vicinity surrendered, yielding a defensive organization which the battalion with heavy supporting fires had been unable to take. This single heroic act on the part of Staff Sergeant Hallman resulted in the immediate advance of the entire battalion for a distance of 2,000 yards to a position from which Fort Keranroux was captured later the same day. Staff Sergeant Hallman’s fighting determination and intrepidity in battle exemplify the highest tradition of the U.S. Armed Forces.