WILLIAM E. McINERNEY, then First Lieutenant, Infantry, Company C, 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in Germany. On 25 March 1945, during an assault of bridge positions near Klein-Auheim, Germany, Lieutenant McInerney fearlessly advanced through friendly and hostile artillery fire and led his company to the bridge which was their objective. When his men faltered in the face of enemy artillery, 20mm and small-arms fire and exploding mines on the bridge itself, he gallantly ran to the head of the column and inspiring his men by his utter disregard for his own safety, led the way across the bridge. Lieutenant McInerney’s heroic, aggressive actions and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Mr. McInerney joined the L.O.V. in 1989 and resided in Massachusetts.