Thomas Edward Fretwell, Jr.
Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 16 September 1944, Sergeant Thomas Edward Fretwell, Jr. was serving with the 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, attached to the 5th Armored Division, First U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, SGT Fretwell’s unit was in action against German forces in Germany moving into a position to support operations in the upcoming Battle of Hürtgen Forest that would begin 3 days later. SGT Fretwell abandoned his burning tank destroyer after it received a direct hit by an enemy 88-mm shell. However, seeing that 2 of his companions did not escape, he returned to the burning tank destroyer. Despite intense machine gun fire and ignoring his own safety, he climbed upon the turret and made a daring attempt to extricate the trapped crew members, but was killed. SGT Fretwell’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal

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 Sergeant Thomas E. Fretwell, Jr. (ASN: 13065301), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, attached to the 5th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 16 September 1944, in Germany. Abandoning his flaming tank destroyer after it received a direct hit by an enemy 88-mm. shell, Sergeant Fretwell, upon observing that two companions did not escape, returned to the burning tank destroyer. Disdaining intense machine gun fire and with utter disregard for his own safety, he climbed upon the turret and was killed in a daring attempt to extricate the trapped crew members. Sergeant Fretwell's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Armored Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 80 (1944)

Memorialization

The remains of Sergeant Thomas Edward Fretwell, Jr. have not been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.

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