Seymour W. Terry Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
CAPTAIN
SEYMOUR W. TERRY
ARMY
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Seymour W. Terry, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 11 May 1945, while serving with Company B, 382d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, in action at Zebra Hill, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. First Lieutenant Terry was leading an attack against heavily defended Zebra Hill when devastating fire from five pillboxes halted the advance. He braved the hail of bullets to secure satchel charges and white phosphorus grenades, and then ran 30 yards directly at the enemy with an ignited charge to the first stronghold, demolished it, and moved on to the other pillboxes, bombarding them with his grenades and calmly cutting down their defenders with rifle fire as they attempted to escape. When he had finished this job by sealing the four pillboxes with explosives, he had killed 20 Japanese and destroyed three machineguns. The advance was again held up by an intense grenade barrage which inflicted several casualties. Locating the source of enemy fire in trenches on the reverse slope of the hill, First Lieutenant Terry, burdened by six satchel charges launched a one-man assault. He wrecked the enemy’s defenses by throwing explosives into their positions and himself accounted for ten of the 20 hostile troops killed when his men overran the area. Pressing forward again toward a nearby ridge, his two assault platoons were stopped by slashing machinegun and mortar fire. He fearlessly ran across 100 yards of fire-swept terrain to join the support platoon and urge it on in a flanking maneuver. This thrust, too, was halted by stubborn resistance. First Lieutenant Terry began another one-man drive, hurling grenades upon the strongly entrenched defenders until they fled in confusion, leaving five dead behind them. Inspired by this bold action, the support platoon charged the retreating enemy and annihilated them. Soon afterward, while organizing his company to repulse a possible counterattack, the gallant company commander was mortally wounded by the burst of an enemy mortar shell. By his indomitable fighting spirit, brilliant leadership, and unwavering courage in the face of tremendous odds, First Lieutenant Terry made possible the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and set an example of heroism in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Born: Dec. 11, 1918 in Little Rock, Ark… Died of wounds two days later… Interred: Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock