UNITED STATES FORCES IN AUSTRIA—Private First Class Thomas F. Tracy, brother of Mrs. Mary Porazzo, 16 1st street, Norwood, Mass, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement in battle near Neuberg, France, on January 24, 1945 The award was announced by the 222d Infantry Regiment of the 42d (Rainbow) Division.
The action is described in the citation:
“While carrying men and equipment to a position in front of our main line of resistance to lay a minefield. Private Tracy’s truck came under intense mortar and small arms fire Although given the opportunity to withdraw, he remained in the area to load his vehicle with casualties to be evacuated. On the following night, again in front of our lines, he evacuated seriously wounded men from under a heavy artillery concentration. In addition to this mission, he also delivered vitally needed ammunition to a rifle company during the night and aided in repelling an enemy attempt to break through our line. Private Tracy’s courageous perseverance and unflinching determination contributed materially to the successful conclusion of the action in this sector. Entered military service from Boston, Mass.”
Before entering the Army in February. 1941, Private Tracy farmed near Norwood. He was assigned to the Rainbow Division in July, 1944, at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, and came overseas with his regiment late the same year. Private Tracy has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge in recognition of his performance of duty in ground combat and wears the European Campaign Ribbon with two battle stars.
V-E Day found the 42d Division slashing south of Munich toward the Austrian border, after a 450-mile drive from the Hardt Mountains of France through the Siegfried Line to the Rhineland through Franconia and Bavaria and the major cities of Schweinfurt Wurzburg, Furth, Dachau, and Munich.
His organization, the 222d Infantry Regiment, is currently stationed in Linz, Austria, performing occupation duly as a unit of General Mark W. Clark’s United States Forces in Austria.