Paul Ziegele

Staff Sergeant PAUL ZIEGELE, (20928860), Company A, 163d Infantry, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in action near Sanananda, New Guinea, on 15 January 1943. When his company attacked an enemy position, Staff Sergeant Ziegele and another soldier, on the extreme flank of the attack were confronted by a strong enemy pill-box containing a 50-caliber machine gun. Directing his companion to a position from which he could fire into the aperture of the pill-box, Staff Sergeant Ziegele moved alone to outflank the position. Reaching the vicinity of the pill-box without drawing enemy fire, he fired through the slot at four enemy soldiers inside, killing one with the last shell in his rifle. Lacking time to reload, he graped [sic] the barrel of the enemy machine gun and attempted to pull it through the aperture, in spite of enemy fire. When this failed he took cover against the side of the pill-box, reloaded and killed two more of the enemy as they emerged, holding his place along until fire from other localities forced him to withdraw to rejoin his unit. Staff Sergeant Ziegele’s daring acts were an inspiration to men of his company. Home address: Jordan, Montana.

Flag Denotes the Recipient Has Passed Away