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First Name: Carl

Last Name: Sheridan

Birthplace: Baltimore, MD, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Baltimore, MD
Middle Name: Vernon



Date of Birth: 05 January 1925

Date of Death: 26 November 1944

Rank: Private First Class

Years Served: 1943 - 1944
Carl Vernon Sheridan

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Carl Vernon Sheridan

Private First Class, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War II

Private First Class Carl Vernon Sheridan (5 January 1925 - 26 November 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.

Carl Vernon Sheridan was born on 5 January 1925 in Baltimore, MD; he also joined the Army from that city. On 26 November 1944, he was serving as a Private First Class in Company K, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. Near the Frenzenberg Castle in Weisweiler, Germany, that day, Sheridan exposed himself to intense fire in order to blast a hole through the doors of the enemy-held castle with his bazooka. He successfully created a gap in the doors, but was killed after charging through it. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company K, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Frenzenberg Castle, Weisweiler, Germany, 26 November 1944.

Citation: Attached to the 2d Battalion of the 47th Infantry on 26 November 1944, for the attack on Frenzenberg Castle, in the vicinity of Weisweiler, Germany, Company K, after an advance of 1,000 yards through a shattering barrage of enemy artillery and mortar fire, had captured 2 buildings in the courtyard of the castle but was left with an effective fighting strength of only 35 men. During the advance, Pfc. Sheridan, acting as a bazooka gunner, had braved the enemy fire to stop and procure the additional rockets carried by his ammunition bearer who was wounded. Upon rejoining his company in the captured buildings, he found it in a furious fight with approximately 70 enemy paratroopers occupying the castle gate house. This was a solidly built stone structure surrounded by a deep water-filled moat 20 feet wide. The only approach to the heavily defended position was across the courtyard and over a drawbridge leading to a barricaded oaken door. Pfc. Sheridan, realizing that his bazooka was the only available weapon with sufficient power to penetrate the heavy oak planking, with complete disregard for his own safety left the protection of the buildings and in the face of heavy and intense small-arms and grenade fire, crossed the courtyard to the drawbridge entrance where he could bring direct fire to bear against the door. Although handicapped by the lack of an assistant, and a constant target for the enemy fire that burst around him, he skillfully and effectively handled his awkward weapon to place two well-aimed rockets into the structure. Observing that the door was only weakened, and realizing that a gap must be made for a successful assault, he loaded his last rocket, took careful aim, and blasted a hole through the heavy planks. Turning to his company he shouted, "Come on, let's get them!" With his .45 pistol blazing, he charged into the gaping entrance and was killed by the withering fire that met him. The final assault on Frezenberg Castle was made through the gap which Pfc. Sheridan gave his life to create.

Death and Burial

Private First Class Carl Vernon Sheridan was killed in action on 26 November 1944. He is buried at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville, MD.



Honoree ID: 1642   Created by: MHOH

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