Willard R. Hight
Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 29 July 1943, Sergeant Willard R. Hight was serving with Company A, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Seventh U.S. Army.

On that day, SGT Hight’s unit was in action against German and Italian forces at Motta Hill in Sicily. While providing protection for his platoon's light machine guns, SGT Hight and his men held a ridge until the enemy was close enough for hand-to-hand fighting. SGT Hight was killed while attempting to bayonet a German soldier that was beating one of his squad members with a rifle butt. His heroic actions in holding the ridge against a German counterattack enabled the American forces to capture a town on the following day. SGT Hight’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day 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 with Arrowhead Pin and Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre (France)
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Sergeant Willard R. Hight (ASN: 38005430), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 29 July 1943, in Sicily. Sergeant Hight and his men, providing protection for light machine guns, held a ridge until the enemy was close enough for hand-to-hand fighting. He was killed in an attempt to bayonet a German soldier who was beating one of his squad members with a rifle but. His actions enabled the American forces to capture a town on the following day. Sergeant Hight'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 45th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 25 (1943)

Burial

Sergeant Willard R. Hight is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale. Lazio, Italy in Plot E, Row 8, Grave 8.

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