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First Name: Foster

Last Name: Sayers

Birthplace: Marsh Creek, PA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Howard, PA
Middle Name: Joseph



Date of Birth: 27 April 1924

Date of Death: 12 November 1944

Rank: Private First Class

Years Served: 1943 - 1944
Foster Joseph Sayers

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Foster Joseph Sayers

Private First Class, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War II

Private First Class Foster Joseph Sayers (27 April 1924 - 12 November 1944) 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.

Foster Joseph Sayers was born on 27 April 1924 in Marsh Creek, PA. He entered the Army at Howard, PA. On 12 November 1944, he was serving as a Private First Class with Company L, 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. Near Thionville, France, that day, his acts of heroism earned him the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company L, 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Thionville, France, 12 November 1944.

Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in combat on 12 November 1944, near Thionville, France. During an attack on strong hostile forces entrenched on a hill he fearlessly ran up the steep approach toward his objective and set up his machinegun 20 yards from the enemy. Realizing it would be necessary to attract full attention of the dug-in Germans while his company crossed an open area and flanked the enemy, he picked up his gun, charged through withering machinegun and rifle fire to the very edge of the emplacement, and there killed 12 German soldiers with devastating close-range fire. He took up a position behind a log and engaged the hostile infantry from the flank in a heroic attempt to distract their attention while his comrades attained their objective at the crest of the hill. He was killed by the very heavy concentration of return fire; but his fearless assault enabled his company to sweep the hill with minimum of casualties, killing or capturing every enemy soldier on it. Pfc. Sayers' indomitable fighting spirit, aggressiveness, and supreme devotion to duty live on as an example of the highest traditions of the military service.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart

Honors

Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir at Bald Eagle State Park near his hometown of Howard, PA, is named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Private First Class Foster Joseph Sayers was killed in action on 12 November 1944. He is buried at Schenck's Cemetery in Howard, PA.



Honoree ID: 1633   Created by: MHOH

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