To the immediate right of the town war memorial.

A brass impression of the Congressional Medal of Honor with an inscribed plaque handing below it.

The memorial remembers PFC Gino J. Merli of the Company H, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in this town on the night of 4-5 September 1944.

The citation for the medal reads:

He was serving as a machine gunner in the vicinity of Sars-la-Bruyere, Belgium, on the night of 4[-5 September 1944, when his company was attacked by a superior German force. Its position was overrun and he was surrounded when our troops were driven back by overwhelming numbers and firepower. Disregarding the fury of the enemy fire concentrated on him he maintained his position, covering the withdrawal of our riflemen and breaking the force of the enemy pressure. His assistant machine gunner was killed and the position captured; the other eight members of the section were forced to surrender. Pfc. Merli slumped down beside the dead assistant gunner and feigned death. No sooner had the enemy group withdrawn than he was up and firing in all directions. Once more his position was taken and the captors found two apparently lifeless bodies. Throughout the night Pfc. Merli stayed at his weapon. By daybreak the enemy had suffered heavy losses, and as our troops launched an assault, asked for a truce. Our negotiating party, who accepted the German surrender, found Pfc. Merli still at his gun. On the battlefield lay 52 enemy dead, 19 of whom were directly in front of the gun. Pfc. Merli's gallantry and courage, and the losses and confusion that he caused the enemy, contributed materially to our victory.

Source of photos: Traces of War

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS AWARDED TO:

PFC GINO J. MERLI OF COMP H, 18TH INFANTRY,

1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, US ARMY

FOR HIS HEROIC DEEDS THE NIGHT

OF 4-5 SEPTEMBER 1944

IN SARS LA BRUYERE