Truman Carol Kimbro
Technician Fourth Grade, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Technician Fourth Grade Truman Carol Kimbro (27 May 1919 - 19 December 1944) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

Truman Carol Kimbro was born on 27 May 1919 in Madisonville, TX. He joined the Army from Houston, TX, in 1941. On 19 December 1944, he was serving as a Technician Fourth Grade in Company C, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. On that day he was assigned to lead a squad in the mining of a crossroads near Rocherath, Belgium. Finding that the area was covered by enemy forces, he left his men in a protected position and went forward alone. Although wounded on his approach, he continued on his mission and successfully laid mines across the road before being killed by enemy fire. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Technician Fourth Grade, U.S. Army, Company C, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Rocherath, Belgium, 19 December 1944.

Citation: On 19 December 1944, as scout, he led a squad assigned to the mission of mining a vital crossroads near Rocherath, Belgium. At the first attempt to reach the objective, he discovered it was occupied by an enemy tank and at least 20 infantrymen. Driven back by withering fire, Technician 4th Grade Kimbro made 2 more attempts to lead his squad to the crossroads but all approaches were covered by intense enemy fire. Although warned by our own infantrymen of the great danger involved, he left his squad in a protected place and, laden with mines, crawled alone toward the crossroads. When nearing his objective he was severely wounded, but he continued to drag himself forward and laid his mines across the road. As he tried to crawl from the objective his body was riddled with rifle and machinegun fire. The mines laid by his act of indomitable courage delayed the advance of enemy armor and prevented the rear of our withdrawing columns from being attacked by the enemy.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Honors

The U.S. Army ship USAT Sgt. Truman Kimbro which served in the Pacific Ocean at the end of World War II was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Technician Fourth Grade Truman Carol Kimbro was killed in action on 19 December 1944. He is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. His grave is located in Plot F, Row 6, Grave 28.

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