Victor Harvey Briggs, Jr.
Captain, U.S. Army

Victor Harvey Briggs, Jr. was born on 20 June 1920 in New York City, NY, the son of Victory Harvey Biggs, Sr. and Harriet L. Jenkins Briggs. In April 1939, he enlisted in the New York Army National Guard and was assigned to Company L, 71st Infantry Regiment. Briggs was transferred to the Regular Army as a Private First Class on 16 September 1940. At some point he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

In 1942, now-Captain Victor Harvey Briggs, Jr. was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division in the North African Theater of Operations. During that time he was awarded the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal, for his gallantry in combat. In 1943, CPT Briggs was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, CPT Briggs was now Commanding Officer, Company C, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, First U.S. Army.

On that day, CPT Briggs' unit was in action against German forces at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. About 600 yards offshore, the Regiment’s landing craft began to encounter intense antitank and small arms fire. Many landing craft, and their occupants, were hit as they plowed through the heavy seas toward shore. As landing craft dropped their ramps, men were killed and wounded as they attempted to get out of the boats. Others were hit as they struggled through the surf or tried to run across the sand weighted down with water-logged equipment. CPT Briggs exposed himself to heavy rifle, machine gun and artillery fire while leading his men ashore from the landing craft. After reaching the beach, he organized an assault team from the groups of troops pinned down by the merciless fire. He then personally led this assault team through a dense enemy minefield and into a strategic position on the slope of a hill. Although attacked by superior numbers, he successfully defended this position until additional troops were moved forward. By vicious fighting, some hand-to-hand, the Regiment's units made it to the top and began pushing toward Colleville-Sur-Mer. By noon, the 16th Infantry had broken through the beach defenses and established a foothold that allowed follow-on units to land and move through. CPT Briggs' leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

CPT Briggs was Killed in Action on 17 November 1944 between Gressenich and Schevenhütte, Germany, during the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead and 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Infantryman Badge

He was also awarded the French Fourragere.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Victor H. Briggs (ASN: 0-1286079), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Company C, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. In the initial assault against the coast of France, Captain Briggs, with complete disregard for his own safety, exposed himself to heavy rifle, machine gun and artillery fire while leading his men ashore from the landing craft. He further exposed himself to this heavy fire, when, after reaching the beach, he organized an assault team from the groups of troops pinned down by the merciless fire. He then personally led this assault team through a dense enemy mine field and into a strategic position on the slope of a hill. Though attacked by superior numbers, he successfully defended this position until additional troops were moved forward. The tenacity of purpose and courage displayed by Captain Briggs exemplifies the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 31 (July 1, 1944)

Burial

Captain Victor Harvey Briggs, Jr. is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium in Plot A, Row 6, Grave 30.

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