FROM MILITARY HALL OF HONOR:
Curtis F. Shoup
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II
Staff Sergeant Curtis F. Shoup (11 January 1921 - 7 January 1945) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II.
Curtis F. Shoup was born on 11 January 1921 in Napenoch, NY. He was a graduate of Oswego High School in Oswego, NY. On 7 January 1945, he was serving as a Staff Sergeant with Company I, 346th Infantry, 87th Infantry Division. Near Tillet, Belgium, that day, his company attacked German troops and Staff Sergeant Shoup's acts of heroism earned him, posthumously, the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 346th Infantry, 87th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Tillet, Belgium, 7 January 1945.
Citation: On 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium, his company attacked German troops on rising ground. Intense hostile machinegun fire pinned down and threatened to annihilate the American unit in an exposed position where frozen ground made it impossible to dig in for protection. Heavy mortar and artillery fire from enemy batteries was added to the storm of destruction falling on the Americans. Realizing that the machinegun must be silenced at all costs, S/Sgt. Shoup, armed with an automatic rifle, crawled to within 75 yards of the enemy emplacement. He found that his fire was ineffective from this position, and completely disregarding his own safety, stood up and grimly strode ahead into the murderous stream of bullets, firing his low-held weapon as he went. He was hit several times and finally was knocked to the ground. But he struggled to his feet and staggered forward until close enough to hurl a grenade, wiping out the enemy machinegun nest with his dying action. By his heroism, fearless determination, and supreme sacrifice, S/Sgt. Shoup eliminated a hostile weapon which threatened to destroy his company and turned a desperate situation into victory.
Medals and Awards:
Medal of Honor; Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Military Medal (United Kingdom); Croix de Guerre (Belgium); Order of Léopold (Belgium); Combat Infantryman Badge; Honors:
The USNS Sgt. Curtis F. Shoup (T-AG-175) was named in his honor.
Death and Burial:
Staff Sergeant Curtis F. Shoup was killed in action on 7 January 1945. He is buried at North Scriba Union Cemetery in Scriba, NY. His grave can be found in Lot 290, which is in the 3rd row from the entrance driveway, 14th headstone from the public highway (North Road, also known as County Route 1). GPS coordinates: Datum WGS84, 43° 29' 18.9" N, 76° 23' 30.5" W