Charles F. Simcox
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

Charles F. Simcox enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 1942.

On 15 September 1944, then-Private First Class Charles F. Simcox was serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army.

On that day, PFC Simcox’s unit was in action against German forces during the Siegfried Line Campaign. During action near Pont-a-Mousson, France, PFC Simcox advanced on 2 German soldiers, killed one as he attempted to run and then turned his Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) on the 2nd man as he was mounting a machine gun and killed him with a burst of fire. PFC Simcox continued his aggressive actions by killing a 3rd German soldier and then eliminating a group of four with fire from a captured enemy machine gun. While on patrol later that evening, PFC Simcox fired into a 7-man German patrol, killing several, but was seriously wounded himself. PFC Simcox’s aggressive, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the eventual cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Then-Staff Sergeant Simcox was killed in action on 24 December 1944, in Luxembourg, during the Battle of the Bulge.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
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
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant [then Private First Class] Charles F. Simcox (ASN: 33325634), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 15 September 1944. During action near Pont-a-Mousson, France, Sergeant Simcox advanced upon two enemy soldiers, killed one as he attempted to run and then turned his BAR upon the other one as he was mounting a machine gun and killed him with an accurate burst. He courageously continued his aggressive actions killing a third German soldier and then eliminated another group of four with fire from a captured machine gun. Later that evening while on patrol Sergeant Simcox fired into a seven-man German patrol, killing several, but was seriously wounded himself. Sergeant Simcox's indomitable fighting spirit and heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.

Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 150 (June 23, 1945)

Burial

Staff Sergeant Charles F. Simcox is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg in Plot B, Row 3, Grave 24.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56063480/charles-f-simcox