Willie W. Moody
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

In June 1944, then-Sergeant Willie W. Moody was serving with the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion, First U.S. Army at Normandy, France.

On 7 and 8 June, SGT Moody’s unit was in action against German forces. SGT Moody’ volunteered to attempt to make contact with a battalion of Rangers that had been cut off. At midnight, SGT Moody moved off and started through the German lines. After several hours of crawling through enemy mine fields, enemy outposts and enemy installations, SGT Moody finally contacted the battalion that had been cut off. SGT Moody then returned to his own unit, and started out again with a reel of wire to a position where he believed his mortars would be set up. SGT Moody moved through the enemy lines unreeling the wire so that accurate fire could be placed upon the German positions once the mortars had been placed in position. SGT Moody’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 3 December 1944, SGT Moody was killed in action during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

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 Sergeant Willie W. Moody (ASN: 33628019), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion, in action against enemy forces on 7 and 8 June 1944, in France. Sergeant Moody volunteered to attempt to make contact with a battalion of Rangers that had been cut off. At midnight Sergeant Moody moved off and started through the enemy lines. After several hours of crawling through enemy mine fields, enemy outposts and enemy installations, he finally contacted the battalion that had been cut off. He then returned to his own unit, and started out again with a reel of wire to a position where he believed his mortars would be set up. He returned through the enemy lines unreeling the wire so that accurate fire could be placed upon the enemy positions once the mortars had been placed in position. Sergeant Moody's heroic actions, 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, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 28 (June 20, 1944)

Burial

Staff Sergeant Willie W. Moody is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France, in Plot J, Row 32, Grave 30.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57993123/willie-w-moody