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Submitted: 4/23/16 • Approved: 4/25/16 • Last Updated: 4/28/16 • R1135101-G0-S3
PRIVTE FIRST CLASS US Army
345th Infantry Division
World War II
1925 - 2015
Bronze Star Medal
Jesse the son of Camuel Eli "Buck" and Nora (Sells) Hovis.
HISTORY OF THE 354th INFANTRY REGIMENT IN EUROPE 1945
The Rhine: A Co. C Boat Is Sunk
Shortly after Co. A started across, Co. C began its assault. By this time the river was brilliantly lighted by the burning buildings. Enemy fire was coming in with considerable accuracy. However, C's 1st platoon under Lt. Sidney Rothenberg attempted to make the crossing, leading the way for the company. One overloaded boat, carrying 25 men, capsized. S/Sgt. Robert B. Johnson, the squad leader in the boat, tore off his rifle belt, threw his weapon away and, in the face of heavy machine gun fire, swam around the boat trying to assist his men. He refused assistance from an engineer crew brought out by Capt. John E. Owens, the company commander, until all of his men who could be found were pulled to safety. Twelve men in the boat were drowned. While the rescue work was going on S/Sgt. James W. Gent, S/Sgt. Charles J. Restle and Pfc. Jesse R. Hovis provided covering fire from an exposed position in the east bank Five of the wounded men managed to swim to a sand bar in the river. Pfc. Forrest E. Wolf tried to reach them in an assault boat, but failed because of the heavy current. Returning to shore he got a motorboat and set out for the sand bar again. This time he was driven back by accurate enemy machine gun fire. Returning to the shore for the second time, he delivered covering fire while Capt. Owens, Gent, Restle and Hovis went out in a boat, succeeded in reaching the men and evacuating them. Lt. Jules J. Friedman, 1st Battalion Communications Officer, crossed the river with one of the assault companies and personally directed the wire teams, working under searing enemy fire, in connecting up the communications for the Battalion...
http://www.89infdivww2.org/memories/354_16.htm
Contributed on 4/23/16 by denise.bratcher63
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Record #: 1135101