The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Technical Sergeant Mills Thomas Lowe (ASN: 34178842), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 3d Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 22 February 1945. On that date, along the shores of Laguna de Bay, Technical Sergeant Lowe led his 24-man machine gun section into the Japanese lines, 300 yards from their nearest supporting troops. For four hours the isolated band was subjected to repeated frontal assaults by a force of 300 Japanese seeking to break through their position. Four banzai charges were driven off with heavy losses to the enemy. Technical Sergeant Low, at times manning a gun, at other times braved enemy fire to move among his tiny force and direct its fire. When the ammunition ran out, Technical Sergeant Low devised a daring plan to raid the attackers lines for weapons and ammunition, and then led the brilliant foray. Using the captured, his force captured seven machineguns and two mortars and ammunition and, using the captured weapons, drove off a fifth attack. Moving more cautiously, the Japanese succeeded in encircling the small band of Americans, launching simultaneous attacks from the front and rear. Repeatedly exposing himself to this two-way fire, Technical Sergeant Lowe moved back and forth among his men, skillfully directing their fire into the lines of the encroaching enemy. Eight of the enemy who succeeded in creeping into the defense lines he killed in close combat. So deadly was the fire poured forth by the outnumbered patrol that the enemy force broke off the encounter and withdrew. Technical Sergeant Lowe personally accounted for approximately 50 enemy dead, eight of them in hand-to-hand combat. Technical Sergeant Lowe’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Technical SergeantRegiment:
511th Parachute Infantry RegimentDivision:
11th Airborne DivisionAction Date:
February 6, 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 Technical Sergeant Mills Thomas Lowe (ASN: 34178842), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with an Infantry Company of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, in action against the enemy at Nichols Field, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 6 February 1945. On that night Technical Sergeant Lowe had his machine gun platoon deployed on the right flank of the battalion perimeter when about 60 Japanese, in a screaming banzai charge, overran one of the machine gun positions and started infiltrating through the gap into the paratroopers’ position. Technical Sergeant Lowe immediately left his foxhole and, tossing grenades at the enemy attempting to get through the hole in the perimeter, he recaptured the machine gun single-handed. He then procced to beat off the Japanese attack on his section of the perimeter, piling up six enemy within four feet of his gun, while his comrades repulsed the enemy who had managed to get through the perimeter. Technical Sergeant Lowe held the position for the rest of the night, and the enemy was thrown back after two more attempts to break through the American defenses. 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.