James H. Appleton, Jr.
Corporal, U.S. Army

On 5 May 1943, Corporal James H. Appleton, Jr. was a Medical Aidman attached to a platoon of Engineers in Company C, 16th Armored Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Fifth Army.

On that day, the Engineer unit to which CPL Appleton was attached was constructing a road through an olive orchard near ****, Tunisia. While the platoon was under heavy artillery fire, one of the men was wounded in the head by a shell fragment. CPL Appleton left his shelter and ran to the wounded soldier to administer aid. He had just finished when the artillery fire increased in intensity. CPL Appleton heard the shells coming, but, seeing that the dazed soldier was trying to rise, he pushed him to the ground and then threw himself on top of the wounded soldier to protect him from further injury. One of the shells exploded within a few feet of the 2 men, fatally wounding CPL Appleton. His self-sacrifice saved the life of his wounded comrade. CPL Appleton's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his own life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Medical 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 Corporal James H. Appleton, Jr. (ASN: 38064120), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action. On 5 May 1943, Corporal Appleton as First Aid Man, was attached to a platoon of Engineers of the 16th Armored Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, who were constructing a road through an olive orchard near ****, Tunisia. While the platoon was subject to a heavy artillery concentration, one of the men was wounded in the head by a shell fragment. Corporal Appleton unhesitatingly left his place of shelter and ran to the wounded soldier to administer first aid. He had just finished when the artillery concentration increased in intensity. Corporal Appleton heard the shells coming, but, noticing that the dazed soldier was trying to rise, he pushed him to the ground and then threw himself on top of the wounded soldier to protect him from further injury. One of the shells exploded within a few feet of the two men, fatally wounding Corporal Appleton. His daring and heroic actions in refusing to seek cover for himself and in deliberately sacrificing his own life, saved the life of his wounded comrade. The unusual courage, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty with complete disregard for his own safety displayed by Corporal Appleton reflect the finest traditions of the Armed Forces and are deserving of the highest praise.

General Orders: Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 71 (1943)

Burial

Corporal James H. Appleton, Jr. is buried at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia, in Plot D, Row 1, Grave 5.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56245356