June 14, 1908 – November 21, 1944
On November 21, 1944, near Hürtgen, Germany, SSG John Minick’s company was pinned down by enemy artillery and trapped by a minefield. He voluntarily moved ahead alone, navigating through the mines to scout a path for his men. His actions enabled his unit to follow him and advance through an area that could have meant death for many. After clearing the minefield, Minick discovered an enemy strongpoint—a group of German soldiers with machine guns—and charged them alone. He killed two enemy soldiers and captured twenty others, an action that saved lives and broke enemy resistance in that area. As he continued to push forward and scout ahead of his unit, Minick stepped on a hidden mine and was killed in action. Minick’s actions helped turn the tide in a brutal and costly campaign in the Hürtgen Forest. Minick’s Medal of Honor citation describes his actions as “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”