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First Name: Harold

Last Name: Kiner

Birthplace: Aline, OK, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Enid, OK
Middle Name: G.



Date of Birth: 14 April 1924

Date of Death: 02 October 1944

Rank: Private

Years Served:
Harold G. Kiner

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Harold G. Kiner
Private, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Private Harold G. Kiner (14 April 1924 - 2 October 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 heroic actions during World War II.

Harold G. Kiner was born on 14 April 1924 in Aline, OK. He joined the Army from Enid, OK. On 2 October 1944, he was serving as a Private in Company F, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. Near Palenberg, Germany, that day, he covered the blast of an enemy-thrown hand grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect those around him. For this self-sacrifice he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company F, 117th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Palenberg, Germany, 2 October 1944.

Citation: With 4 other men, he was leading in a frontal assault 2 October 1944, on a Siegfried Line pillbox near Palenberg, Germany. Machinegun fire from the strongly defended enemy position 25 yards away pinned down the attackers. The Germans threw hand grenades, 1 of which dropped between Pvt. Kiner and 2 other men. With no hesitation, Private Kiner hurled himself upon the grenade, smothering the explosion. By his gallant action and voluntary sacrifice of his own life, he saved his 2 comrades from serious injury or death.

Death and Burial

Private Harold G. Kiner was killed in action on 2 October 1944. He is buried at Aline Star Cemetery in his birth place of Aline, OK.



Honoree ID: 1481   Created by: MHOH

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