Robert Brown McHolland
Captain, U.S. Army

On 23 November 1944, Captain Robert Brown McHolland was serving as Company Commander, Company K, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army.

On 23-24 November, CPT McHolland’s unit was in action against against strongly-fortified German positions near Tettingen, Germany, during the Siegfried Line Campaign. Commanding Company K, CPT McHolland led a group of his men against a concrete machine-gun emplacement, destroyed it with a demolition charge, and forced the German occupants to surrender. The following day, CPT McHolland broke up a strong German attack against his command post. As the enemy force retreated, CPT McHolland and 2 enlisted men pursued them, killed 14 of the attackers with hand grenade fire, wounded 7 and forced the remaining 78 Germans to surrender. Later, CPT McHolland was fatally wounded while evacuating 2 wounded men to the safety of a building. CPT McHolland’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and Silver Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Robert B. McHolland (ASN: 0-433315), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company K, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, in Germany. On 23 November 1944, during an attack by the 358th Infantry against strongly fortified enemy positions near Tettingen, Germany, Captain McHolland, commanding Company K fearlessly lead a group of his men against a concrete machine-gun emplacement, destroyed it with a demolition charge, and forced the occupants to surrender. The following day he again distinguished himself by breaking up a strong enemy attack against his command post. When the enemy force retreated, Captain McHolland and two enlisted men boldly pursued them, killed fourteen of the attackers with hand grenade fire, wounded seven and forced the remaining seventy-eight to surrender. Later, Captain McHolland was fatally wounded while evacuating two wounded men to the safety of a building. His conspicuous heroism, courage and extreme devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military service.

Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 28 (1945)

Burial

Captain Robert Brown McHolland is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France in Plot A, Row 22, Grave 52.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56658320/robert-b-mcholland