Freeman V. Horner
Description
Major Freeman V. Horner was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 1 July 1949.
His subsequent duty assignments include: Command and staff positions from Company to Battalion level; serving at Fort Benning, European and Korean Theaters until retirement from the United States Military. After his retirement he continued serving his country in civil service until his second retirement.
Major Horner's awards and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star for Valor and w/ Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart.
Staff Sergeant Horner and other members of his company were attacking Wurselen, Germany, against stubborn resistance on 16 November 1944, when machinegun fire from houses on the edge of the town pinned the attackers in flat, open terrain 100 yards from their objective. As they lay in the field, enemy artillery observers directed fire upon them, causing serious casualties. Realizing that the machineguns must be eliminated in order to permit the company to advance from its precarious position, Staff Sergeant Horner voluntarily stood up with his submachine gun and rushed into the teeth of concentrated fire, burdened by a heavy load of ammunition and hand grenades. Just as he reached a position of seeming safety, he was fired on by a machinegun which had remained silent up until that time. He coolly wheeled in his fully exposed position while bullets barely missed him and killed two hostile gunners with a single, devastating burst. He turned to face the fire of the other two machineguns, and dodging fire as he ran, charged the 2 positions 50 yards away. Demoralized by their inability to hit the intrepid Infantryman, the enemy abandoned their guns and took cover in the cellar of the house they occupied. Staff Sergeant Horner burst into the building, hurled two grenades down the cellar stairs, and called for the Germans to surrender. Four men gave up to him. By his extraordinary courage, Staff Sergeant Horner destroyed three enemy machinegun positions, killed or captured seven enemy, and cleared the path for his company's successful assault on Wurselen.
