Letters From War Wednesday: World War II – Hobert Winebrenner.

In this edition of Letters From War Wednesday, we stray from an actual letter to bring you a Silver Star citation from the Battle of Dillingen, Germany.  Sergeant Hobert Winebrenner, author of BOOTPRINTS, served with the 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, throughout Northern Europe.  He earned the award for his heroics at Dillingen.

Sgt. Hobert Winebrenner - 358th Infantry

“For gallantry in action on 15 December 1944 in the vicinity of Dillingen, Germany. During a counterattack, Sergeant Winebrenner attempted to direct mortar fire upon the enemy but found that all of his means of communication had been knocked out. Remembering where a mortar observer had previously hidden a radio from the enemy, he, at risk of his life, crossed open terrain under heavy fire to find the radio still intact in its hiding place. Ignoring the intense fire, he returned over the same hazardous route to a position from which he could observe the enemy. He then set up his radio and, by directing accurate mortar fire on the attackers, repelled the counterattack and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. His gallantry was in accordance with high military tradition.

“I caught a ton of enemy machine-gun fire out in no man’s land,” Winebrenner said later of the incident. “I heard the bullets snap, buzz and ricochet all around me, but I never got hit. God was surely with me that day.

“I made it back to my position just as the mass of Germans rounded the end of the cars and began their charge toward us. Amazingly, the radio still worked and I didn’t waste a second in calling our mortar platoon. I had no time for locating rounds. Jerry was nearly on us! I shouted what I believed to be the correct coordinates and called for effect. Our mortar men let go with all they had, round after round of HE and WP. The close-in fire fell like rain, directly on the advancing enemy. Those Krauts never knew what hit them. Shells exploded everywhere and tore the enemy soldiers to bits. We gladly jumped on our MGs and added to the storm.

“More than me, our mortar platoon smashed the counterattack. In no way could the barrage have been more on time or on target. They deserve the credit.”

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