First Lieutenant (then Second Lieutenant),CompanyC, 180th Infantry Regiment,for extraordinary heroism in action on 23 May 1944 near Carano, Italy. On the first day of the Allied attack toward Rome from the Anzio Beachhead, Lieutenant Brandt led his rifle platoon across a heavily sown minefield and within one half hour had captured his first objective 1500 yards from the line of departure. With hand grenades and a submachine gun he personally killed or wounded a number of the enemy. Continuing past the enemy lines, Lieutenant Brandt led his platoon in the capture of a battery of heavy mortars which had been holding up the advance of the rest of the battalion. Although painfully wounded he continued to lead the platoon in the capture of its second objective. Not until he had assured himself that his newly won objective was secured against enemy counterattack did Lieutenant Brandt permit himself to be evacuated. The heroism and aggressive leadership displayed by Lieutenant Brandt resulted in the destruction of an entire enemy company.