b. 11/01/1921 Napanoch, New York. d. 07/01/1945 near Sainte-Ode, Belgium.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 07/01/1945 near Sainte-Ode, Belgium.
Curtis F Shoup MOH
He was a graduate of Oswego High School in Oswego, New York. Shoup joined the army from Buffalo, New York in August 1942. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army in Company I, 346th Infantry, 87th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on January 7, 1945 near Tillet, Belgium.
MOH CITATION:
On 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium, his company attacked German troops on rising ground. Intense hostile machine-gun fire pinned down and threatened to annihilate the American unit in an exposed position where frozen ground made it impossible to dig in for protection. Heavy mortar and artillery fire from enemy batteries was added to the storm of destruction falling on the Americans. Realizing that the machine gun must be silenced at all costs, S/Sgt. Shoup, armed with an automatic rifle, crawled to within 75 yards of the enemy emplacement. He found that his fire was ineffective from this position, and completely disregarding his own safety, stood up and grimly strode ahead into the murderous stream of bullets, firing his low-held weapon as he went. He was hit several times and finally was knocked to the ground. But he struggled to his feet and staggered forward until close enough to hurl a grenade, wiping out the enemy machine-gun nest with his dying action. By his heroism, fearless determination, and supreme sacrifice, S/Sgt. Shoup eliminated a hostile weapon which threatened to destroy his company and turned a desperate situation into victory.
BURIAL LOCATION: NORTH SCRIBA UNION CEMETERY, SCRIBA, NEW YORK.
LOT 290, GRAVE 8.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM, FORT BENNING, GEORGIA.
