SERGEANT HENRY B. POISSON
United States Army, 150th Engineers
River:
Moselle
River
Location: Near Crevechamps, Treadway Bridge
Date:
13 September 1944
Length: 372' "A" Company
On the 9th of September, 1944,
during an assault crossing of the Moselle River,
Sergeant Henry B. Poisson was in charge of the first boat to reach the enemy
shore successfully.
Due to the casualties suffered by our infantry troops, further crossings were imperative.
Sergeant Poisson made four trips carrying supplies and evacuated twenty wounded infantrymen.
On the fifth trip at 0230 hours the enemy shot flares over the river, and machine gunned the boat crew, and wounded two members of the crew.
After this action it was impossible to use a narrow strip of land to evacuate wounded and bring up supplies, however a small lake behind this narrow island afforded some protection, though it was subjected to direct enemy machine gun and mortar fire, Sergeant Poisson stripped himself and, by swimming and pushing the boat, was successful in evacuating the wounded and administered first aid until medics arrived.
Sergeant Poisson’s actions and devotion went far beyond the call of duty.
His determination to accomplish the mission reflects the highest credit upon himself and his military service.
APO 312 U.S.Army Headquarters XII Corps
Office of the Commanding General
20 November 1944
Award of Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
British Military Medal
Under the provisions of Cir 32, Hq European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army,
20 March, 1944, as amended, The Silver Star Medal is awarded to the following
named officers and enlisted men. Henry B. Poisson, 31320376, Sergeant, Corps of
Engineers, Engineer C BN.
Who while serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by the courage, leadership, and devotion to duty.
Sergeant Poisson reflected the highest credit on his character as a soldier and upon his military service.
Poisson entered military service from the State of Maine.
By command of Major general Eddy
Ralph J. Canine, Colonel, GSC, Chief of Staff
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HEADQUARTERS
18 September 1944 SUBJECT: Commendation. TO: Major, Bruce W. Reagan, Commanding 150th Engineer Combat Battalion, ATO 403, U. S. Army. 1. It is with great pleasure that I reproduce below a letter which I have this date received from the Commanding General XII Corps: SUBJECT: Commendation. TO : Lieutenant Colonel Charles Keller Jr., Commanding, 1135th Engineer Combat group, APO 403, U. S. Army. 1. It is a pleasure for me to commend you and the members of your splendid command for the superior manner in which you assisted the XII Corps in the securing of its bridgehead across the Moselle River. 2. Not only was the speed and efficiency with which your men bridged the Moselle and Meurthe Rivers a compliment to your professional skill, but the courage and tenacity they exhibited against direct enemy observed fire was a high tribute to your training as Combat Engineers. I consider that the manner in which you effected the crossing of the 35th Infantry Division was a major contribution to the successful envelopment of the city of Nancy, and to the advance of our corps to the east. I ask that you my commendation to the officers, noncommissioned officers, and men of your command.
/s/ M. S. Eddy 2. I desire to add my personal appreciation for the solder manner in which the members of your command accomplished their assigned missions. The performance of your command was in accordance with the best traditions of the Corps Of Engineers which is the highest commendation I can give any unit.
/s/ Charles Keller, Jr.
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HEADQUARTERS 150TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION, APO 403, U.S. ARMY, 22 Sept. 1944 To: All Officers and men of the 150th Engr. Combat Bn. 1. It is with the greatest of satisfaction and pride that I reiterate the sentiments expressed in the message from our Group Commander. 2. I regard the commendation as especially gratifying in view of the fact that we have recently crossed the threshold of actual combat. Your performance was indeed exemplary to the best "seasoned" troops. 3. The superb manner in which you executed a most hazardous mission reflects the peerless leadership, courageous tenacity and spirit of accomplishment that we have tried to instill. These many pre-requisite qualities which are yours, are the very pillars upon which success in battle is built; and that success, I am confident, will continue to be ours.
/a/ Bruce W. Reagan |
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION AWARDED 150th ENGINEERS.
On the 21st of August, the 150th Engineer Combat Battalion received recognition for a portion of its outstanding work done during the prosecution of the war. On that day the unit received word of the award of the Presidential Unit Citation for operations by the battalion during the drive in Luxembourg last winter. Almost concurrent with the receipt of the written orders publicizing the fact, many heard the radio. Published below is the Citation.
"Under the provisions of Section IV, Circular 333, WD, 22 DEC 43 and 2nd Ind, Hq Third U.S. Army, 3 Aug. 45 to Ltr, HQ 1135 Engr. C Gp, 24 Jun. 45, the 150 Engr. C Bn. is cited for outstanding performance of duty against the enemy from 7 Feb. 45, to 13 Feb, 45, on the Sauer and Our Rivers in Luxembourg and Germany. The 150 Engineer Combat Battalion was assigned the mission of ferrying the assault troops and supplies across the Our River during the 319 Infantry Regiment's assault Troops on the Siegfried Line. Following the attack, which began at 0200, 7 Feb, in the face of withering small arms fire from Pillboxes with heavy Artillery, Mortar and Rocket Fire from the carefully planned positions of the Siegfried Line, this Battalion waged a bitter struggle with the raging torrents of the flooded Our River Repeated efforts were made to construct foot bridges, infantry support bridges, and Treadway bridges. However due to excessively and accurate fire from the fortifications of the Siegfried Line and the torrential water of the Our River, all efforts to construct Bridges or ferries met with complete failure. It was therefore necessary for the 150 Engineer Combat Battalion to rely entirely on the use of assault boats to support the Bridgehead until it could be expanded sufficiently to eliminate the small arms fire and the observed artillery fire upon the only existing Bridge site. On the night of 9 Feb., when it had been decided that additional troops could not be ferried until the 319 Infantry Regiment's bridgehead was further expanded, the 150 Engineer Combat Battalion was given an additional mission of constructing a treadway bridge over the Sauer River in the vicinity of Dillingen. Despite the mailing casualties and the strain from the continual struggle against the flooded River, and with a spirit of grim determination, the officers and Men of the 150 Engineer Combat Battalion undertook their new mission. Throughout the night of Feb. 9 and the following day, small arms and accurate mortar fire from the Siegfried line repulsed every effort to construct the bridge. Although severely handicapped by the flooded river and the enemy's accurate mortar artillery fire, the battalion was able to complete the bridge on 13 Feb. The admirable spirit and devotion to duty of the gallant officers and men of the 150th Engineer Combat Battalion is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Corps of Engineering."
The 150th was activated on the 25th of February, 1943 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts and was under the supervision of the XIII Corps. The unit engaged in the West Virginia maneuvers in the fall of 1943, then moved to Fort Dix, New Jersey. They were staged for overseas duty at Camp Kilmer, and left the New York Port of Embarkation aboard the Queen Mary on the 23rd of December. Disembarking Greenock, Scotland, the battalion moved to Kings ton Bagpuize, near Oxford, England, thence to Clifton Hampden. The unit left Weymouth the 2nd of July bound for Normandy and the war.
The outfit moved through part of Normandy under Command of the First Army; then, when the Third Army became operational, they were assigned to the XX Corps, with which unit they swept through almost all of France. On September 7th, 1944, the 150th joined the XII Corps, under whose command they have remained since that date. Through France, Luxembourg, Germany, and Czechoslovakia, the unit continued performing all assigned engineer tasks in exemplary fashion. They were highly instrumental in bridging the Rhine at Oppenheim, as well as the Main River at Frankfurt. The end of the war found the 150th in Susice, Czechoslovakia, where they had traveled in support of the Fourth Armored Division.
The 150th Engineer Combat Battalion by receiving the Presidential unit Citation, has distinguished itself in the annals of the Corps of Engineers. Their every mission in this war has been a tale of heroism, devotion to duty, unstinted effort on the part of all its personnel. High praise is due the unit, and memories of their accomplishments will live on.
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