_Manning, Sidney E., Corporal_, Co. C, 167th Infantry, 42nd Division,
Flomaton, Ala.—Breuvannes, France, July 28, 1918. When his platoon
commander and platoon sergeant had both become casualties soon after
the beginning of an assault on strongly fortified heights overlooking
the Ourcq River, Corporal Manning took command of his platoon, which
was near the center of the attacking line. Though himself severely
wounded, he led forward the thirty-five men remaining in the platoon,
and finally succeeded in gaining a foothold on enemy position, during
which time he had received more wounds, and all but seven of his men
had fallen. Directing the consolidation of the position, he held off
a large body of the enemy only fifty yards away by fire from his
automatic rifle. He declined to take cover until the line had been
entirely consolidated with the line of the platoon on the flank, when
he dragged himself to shelter, suffering from nine wounds in all parts
of the body.
* * * * *
_Neibaur, Thomas C., Private_, Co. M, 167th Infantry, 42nd Division,
Sumner City, Idaho.—Landers, St. Georges, France, Oct. 16, 1918. On
the afternoon of Oct. 16, 1918, when the Côte de Chatillon had just
been gained after bitter fighting and the summit of that strong bulwark
in the Kriemhilde Stellung was being organized, Private Neibaur was
sent out on patrol with his automatic-rifle squad to enfilade enemy
machine-gun nests. As he gained the ridge he set up his automatic
rifle and was directly thereafter wounded in both legs by fire from a
hostile machine gun on his flank. The advance wave of the enemy troops
counter-attacking had about gained the ridge; and, although practically
cut off and surrounded, the remainder of his detachment being killed or
wounded, this gallant soldier kept his automatic rifle in operation to
such effect that by his own efforts and by fire from the skirmish line
of his company, at least 100 yards in his rear, the attack was checked.
The enemy wave being halted and lying prone, four of the enemy attacked
Private Neibaur at close quarters. These he killed. He then moved along
among the enemy lying on the ground about him. In the midst of the fire
from his own lines, and by coolness and gallantry, he captured eleven
prisoners at the point of his pistol, and, although painfully wounded,
brought them back to our lines. The counter-attack in full force was
arrested, to a large extent, by the single efforts of this soldier,
whose heroic exploits took place against the sky line in full view of
his entire battalion.