General John Dahlquist

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Complete medal group, with named DSM, numbered DSC and 2nd DSM. Calling card of General Dahlquist signed on the back by Hermann Goring. This is just a small sampling of the larger group. Documenting letter from Granddaughther along with several documenting photos. 

     As the war was coming to an end the German Army was pouring back into Germany to come to her defense. Realizing that one path to Germany for the German Army was to cross the Rhine River, General John Dahlquist gave the order for the 143rd Regimental Combat Team to head towards, and Capture, the ferry crossing at the Rhine, effectively cutting off that point of retreat for the German Army. To capture the objective the 143rd would have to drive through towns with names like Windon, Kendel, Rheinzabern, and Neupfotz.  At each town German resistance was increasing, and at each town General Dahlquist with total disregard for his own safety directed his lead tanks fire and attack.

      This account of the attack on Neupfotz comes from 1stLt. Burt Peel  “We were riding just behind the leading vehicles as they rounded a turn in the road in the town of Neupfotz. They were suddenly stopped, and we heard a large amount of small arms fire and several loud explosions.

    General Dahlquist, at once, left his jeep and moved up quickly to the head of the column. There he found that heavy enemy fire had halted the column and that there were several casualties among the troops with the lead tanks. The General, standing by the lead tank, directed the removal of the dead and wounded so that the tanks could move. Then, still with the lead tank and exposed to enemy fire, He directed the fire of the tanks into the enemy strong points. Dalhquist ordered the tanks to move forward, firing as they moved. The enemy resistance was smashed.

     Although darkness was setting in, the General ordered the attack to push on to the Rhine to seize the ferry crossing, thus denying the enemy this escape route. The General's personal and aggressive leadership in the face of enemy fire resulted in the successful conclusion of the attack, the capture of over 1800 prisoners, the capture of much enemy material and equipment, and at a cost of very few casualties to our own troops."

     This action, and others like it won General Dahlquist not only the respect of his men, but also the Distinguished Service Cross the nations second highest valor award.