Jack L. Treadwell
Jack LeMaster Treadwell | |
---|---|
180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division | |
Battles/wars | World War II Vietnam War |
Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart (4) Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal (13) |
Jack LeMaster Treadwell[1] (March 31, 1919 – December 12, 1977) was a United States Army colonel and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration for valor—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. At the time of his retirement, Treadwell was believed to be the most decorated man in the United States Armed Forces.
Early life
Treadwell was born on March 30, 1919, in
Military career
World War II
He served with the
Medal of Honor action
By March 18, 1945 was serving as a
According to Signal Corps photo 210821, Treadwell received his MOH from
Post war
Treadwell's next assignment was with the
He next completed
His next assignment was at
Vietnam War
Treadwell served as Chief of Staff of the
Post war
In June 1970, he was presented the Oklahoma Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of extraordinary heroism involving great personal danger and risk of life in the line of military duty and for outstanding service to the
After Vietnam, Treadwell served with Headquarters
After more than 33 years service, Treadwell retired on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 1974 in retirement ceremonies held at the Fort Jackson Officer's Open Mess at 10:30 A.M. Major General William H. Blakefield, commander, Readiness Region II, presented Treadwell with the third oak leaf cluster for his Legion of Merit, for exceptional meritorious conduct from July 1972 through February 1974, while assigned as the Senior Army Advisor, 120th Army Reserve Command, U.S. Army Readiness Region III. Treadwell was also presented a Certificate of Appreciation from Creighton Abrams, the Chief of Staff of the United States Army.[6]
Later life
Treadwell was married to Maxine Johnson of Mooresville, Indiana, an Army nurse whom he met while he was recuperating in France from his most serious wound (a ricochet through his neck and chest).[6]
After retiring, Treadwell and his wife settled in Oklahoma, where they planned to raise horses. The Treadwells have three daughters, two of whom are married to officers in the U.S. Army. Treadwell died aged 58 on 12 December 1977 following open-heart bypass surgery. He is buried with full military honors at the Fort Sill Post Cemetery near Lawton, Oklahoma.[6]
Awards and decorations
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Treadwell also received the
Combat Infantryman Badge | ||
Senior Parachutist Badge (1 combat jump) | ||
Medal of Honor | Distinguished Service Cross | Silver Star |
oak leaf clusters
|
Distinguished Flying Cross | Soldier's Medal |
Valor device and 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
|
Purple Heart with 3 bronze oak leaf clusters |
Meritorious Service Medal |
Air Medal with Award numeral 13 | Army Commendation Medal
|
Army Good Conduct Medal
|
American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Device, 1 3⁄16" Silver Star, and 3 3⁄16" Bronze Stars |
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing) |
World War II Victory Medal
|
Army of Occupation Medal with 'Germany' clasp |
National Defense Service Medal with 3⁄16" Bronze Star |
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 3⁄16" Bronze Stars |
French Croix de Guerre Star
with Silver-Gilt |
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star |
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (1st Class) |
Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Army Presidential Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
|
Medal of Honor citation
Treadwell's official Medal of Honor citation reads:[7]
Capt. Treadwell (then 1st Lt.), commanding officer of Company F, near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, in the
Siegfried line, single-handedly captured 6 pillboxes and 18 prisoners. Murderous enemy automatic and rifle fire with intermittent artillery bombardments had pinned down his company for hours at the base of a hill defended by concrete fortifications and interlocking trenches. Eight men sent to attack a single point had all become casualties on the bare slope when Capt. Treadwell, armed with a submachinegun and handgrenades, went forward alone to clear the way for his stalled company. Over the terrain devoid of cover and swept by bullets, he fearlessly advanced, firing at the aperture of the nearest pillbox and, when within range, hurling grenades at it. He reached the pillbox, thrust the muzzle of his gun through the port, and drove 4 Germans out with their hands in the air. A fifth was found dead inside. Waving these prisoners back to the American line, he continued under terrible, concentrated fire to the next pillbox and took it in the same manner. In this fort he captured the commander of the hill defenses, whom he sent to the rear with the other prisoners. Never slackening his attack, he then ran across the crest of the hill to a third pillbox, traversing this distance in full view of hostile machine gunners and snipers. He was again successful in taking the enemy position. The Germans quickly fell prey to his further rushes on 3 more pillboxes in the confusion and havoc caused by his whirlwind assaults and capture of their commander. Inspired by the electrifying performance of their leader, the men of Company F stormed after him and overwhelmed resistance on the entire hill, driving a wedge into the Siegfried line and making it possible for their battalion to take its objective. By his courageous willingness to face nearly impossible odds and by his overwhelming one-man offensive, Capt. Treadwell reduced a heavily fortified, seemingly impregnable enemy sector.
Distinguished Service Cross citation
Treadwell's official Distinguished Service Cross citation reads:[7]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Jack LeMaster Treadwell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 24 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. When an attack by a superior enemy force threatened the security of his company position, Lieutenant Treadwell, weapons platoon leader of a rifle company, promptly brought the fire of his weapons platoon to bear on the enemy. Small groups of enemy under cover of artillery and mortar fire had advanced to within fifty yards of the company position and were beginning to infiltrate through the lines. Lieutenant Treadwell, knowing that two of the rifle platoons were without officers, quickly reorganized them to meet each new thrust of the enemy. Working under heavy fire, Lieutenant Treadwell excellent leadership as he moved from squad to squad over a 400 yard front, controlling the defense of the positions. While directing friendly artillery and mortar fire during this engagement, Lieutenant Treadwell adjusted fire on the enemy positions extremely close to his observation post. Closing with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand combat, Lieutenant Treadwell inspired his men to a vicious and successful defense of their positions.
See also
Notes
- ^ Hall of Valor Archived 2012-05-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) -- TREADWELL#JACK#L########". The National Archives. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Veteran Tributes: Jack L. Treadwell". VeteranTribtues.org. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ "Warren Co.NC v-xxv_Harris_1".
- ^ http://www.hill4-11.org/biographies/bio-treadwell.html
- ^ a b c Taylor, Ethel (September 18, 2003). "Kiowa County's Medal Of Honor Recipient". Kiowa County Veterans List / Ethel Taylor. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ a b "COL Jack LeMaster Treadwell". Military Hall of Honor, LLC. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
References
- "Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (T–Z)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on June 7, 1997. Retrieved 2007-10-03.