Fredrick Samuel Vance
Private First Class, U.S. Army

[Name Discrepancy: Fredrick is the spelling of his first name on his gravestone by the American Battle Monuments Commission. However, it is spelled Frederick on his citation for the DSC. MHOH is leaving that spelling in the actual citation shown below. However, it uses the spelling Fredrick everywhere else in the biography.]

On 29 February 1944, Private First Class Fredrick Samuel Vance was serving with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army.

On that day, PFC Vance’s unit was in action against German forces at Carano, Italy. With one other soldier, PFC Vance manned an outpost 800 yards in advance of Company I and held it in the face of repeated German infantry attacks supported by mortar and artillery fire. PFC Vance refused to fall back, even when told that his mission had been accomplished, and for 2 hours continued holding off the enemy and inflicting heavy casualties. When their ammunition was nearly exhausted, PFC Vance crawled back under heavy enemy fire to the main line of resistance. Procuring all the ammunition he could carry, PFC Vance again crawled forward and was fired upon by a German light machine gun. With his rifle he killed the German gunner and his assistant and regained the outpost. For 2 hours PFC Vance and his comrade fought off all enemy efforts to overrun or outflank their position and prevented 2 German platoons from advancing. Finally an enemy shell made a direct hit on the outpost, killing both PFC Vance and his comrade. The extraordinary heroism of PFC Vance prevented the full brunt of the German assault from falling on Company I and allowed time for American forces to bring artillery to bear, eventually breaking up the enemy attack. PFC Vance’s bold, selfless, courageous actions and heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 29 February 1944, the 3rd Division fought off an attack by 3 German divisions that fell back with heavy losses 2 days later.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and Silver Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman 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 Private First Class Frederick S. Vance (ASN: 33149178), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 29 February 1944, at Carano, Italy. With one other soldier, Private First Class Vance manned an outpost 800 yards in advance of his company and held it in the face of repeated and determined enemy infantry attacks supported by mortar and artillery fire. He refused to fall back, even when told that his mission had been accomplished, and for 2 hours continued to hold off the enemy and inflict heavy casualties. When their ammunition was nearly exhausted, he crawled back under heavy enemy fire to the main line of resistance. Procuring all the ammunition he could carry, he again crawled forward and was fired upon by a German light machine gun. With his rifle he killed the German gunner and his assistant and regained the outpost. For two hours Private Vance and his comrade fought off all enemy efforts to overrun or outflank their position and prevented two German platoons from advancing. Finally an enemy shell made a direct hit on the outpost, killing both its defenders. The extraordinary heroism of Private Vance prevented the full brunt of the German assault from falling on his company and allowed time for our forces to bring artillery to bear, eventually breaking up the enemy attack. Private First Class Vance'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 3d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

War Department, General Orders No. 38 (May 16, 1945)

Burial

Private First Class Fredrick Samuel Vance is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy, in Plot D, Row 14, Grave 4.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92064564/frederick-samuel-vance