Hermann Johann Friedrich Bottcher
Captain, U.S. Army

Hermann Johann Friedrich Bottcher was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States when he was in his early 20s. In the late 1930s, he served in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade for two years, in the Spanish Civil War, where he fought in seven battles, was wounded twice, decorated three times, and had the rank of Major. Returning to the United States, he was completing an architectural degree at San Francisco State College when the U.S.A. was attacked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Bottcher enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 32nd Division. Within a year, he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After all of his superiors were killed, he took command of his company and was eventually commissioned as a Captain and served as Company Commander. He had fought in the Papuan campaign and was then killed in the Ormoc campaign on Leyte Island in the Philippines. At the time of his death, he had been recommended for a promotion to Major, and a Silver Star Medal.

[The data in the previous two paragraphs is from the March 2, 1945 issue of Yank Magazine, which is in the Public Domain.]

From 5 to 11 December 1942, Captain Hermann Johann Friedrich Bottcher was serving with the 32nd Reconnaissance Troop, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division in the South West Pacific Area. During that period, CPT Bottcher was in action against Japanese forces in the vicinity of Papua, New Guinea. CPT Bottcher's outstanding leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 20 December 1942, CPT Bottcher was serving with the 32nd Reconnaissance Troop, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division in the South West Pacific Area. On that day, CPT Bottcher was in action against Japanese forces and his outstanding leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a second award of the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

CPT Bottcher was Killed in Action in the Ormoc campaign on 31 December 1944 at Leyte, Philippines.

[Because the International Brigade was a nominally Communist organization, the U.S. Government denied Bottcher American citizenship for many years. However, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and distinguished himself in combat during World War II. His U.S. citizenship was granted days before he was killed.]

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis) (1st of 2 Awards)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Herman J. F. Bottcher (0-888451), Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 5 to 11 December 1942, in the vicinity of Papua, New Guinea. Captain Bottcher's outstanding leadership, 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, the 32d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 64 (December 28, 1942)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis) (2nd of 2 Awards)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Herman J. F. Bottcher (0-888451), Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 20 December 1942. Captain Bottcher's outstanding leadership, 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, the 32d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 36 (1943)

Burial

Captain Hermann Johann Friedrich Bottcher is buried at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines in Plot L, Row 4, Grave 134.