George Lafayette Mabry, Jr.
Major General, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Major General George Lafayette Mabry, Jr. was a U.S. Army officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest in World War II.

George Lafayette Mabry, Jr. was born on 14 September 1917 in Sumter, SC; he also entered the Army from that city. He was a 1940 graduate of Presbyterian College located in Clinton, SC. After rapidly rising through the officer ranks, on 20 November 1944 he was serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. While leading his battalion in the Hurtgen Forest near Schevenhütte, Germany that day, he personally found a safe route through a minefield, led a group of scouts in the capture of three enemy bunkers, and then established an advantageous defensive position. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division

Place and date: Hurtgen Forest near Schevenhutte, Germany, 20 November 1944.

Citation: He was commanding the 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, in an attack through the Hurtgen Forest near Schevenhutte, Germany, on 20 November 1944. During the early phases of the assault, the leading elements of his battalion were halted by a minefield and immobilized by heavy hostile fire. Advancing alone into the mined area, Col. Mabry established a safe route of passage. He then moved ahead of the foremost scouts, personally leading the attack, until confronted by a boobytrapped double concertina obstacle. With the assistance of the scouts, he disconnected the explosives and cut a path through the wire. Upon moving through the opening, he observed 3 enemy in foxholes whom he captured at bayonet point. Driving steadily forward he paced the assault against 3 log bunkers which housed mutually supported automatic weapons. Racing up a slope ahead of his men, he found the initial bunker deserted, then pushed on to the second where he was suddenly confronted by 9 onrushing enemy. Using the butt of his rifle, he felled 1 adversary and bayoneted a second, before his scouts came to his aid and assisted him in overcoming the others in hand-to-hand combat. Accompanied by the riflemen, he charged the third bunker under pointblank small arms fire and led the way into the fortification from which he prodded 6 enemy at bayonet point. Following the consolidation of this area, he led his battalion across 300 yards of fire-swept terrain to seize elevated ground upon which he established a defensive position which menaced the enemy on both flanks, and provided his regiment a firm foothold on the approach to the Cologne Plain. Col. Mabry's superlative courage, daring, and leadership in an operation of major importance exemplify the finest characteristics of the military service.

Mabry reached the rank of Major General before leaving the Army.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
National Defense Service Medal
Croix de guerre (France)
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge

Death and Burial

Major General George Lafayette Mabry, Jr. died on 13 July 1990 at age 72. He is buried at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Stateburg, SC.