Archie F. Averitte
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army

Archie F. Averitte was the son of Floyd W. and Willie Ora Albritton Averitte.

On 1 September 1944, Technical Sergeant Archie F. Averitte was serving with Company I, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army, in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, TSGT Averitte's unit was in action against German forces near Fourneuf, France, in what was known as the Battle for Brest, one of the fiercest battles fought on the Western Front during World War II. TSGT Averitte led his platoon in a charge on strongly-defended German positions. He killed 3 enemy soldiers with his bayonet as they pressed forward to establish contact with the left assault platoon and helped kill several Germans defending an important tunnel leading to the road. The next day his body was found, surrounded by 3 German soldiers he had killed single-handedly in a fight to the death. TSGT Averitte's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Technical Sergeant Archie F. Averitte (ASN: 6262643), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company I, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 1 September 1944. On that date, near Fourneuf, France, Sergeant Averitte led his platoon in a courageous charge on strongly-defended German positions. He killed three enemy soldiers with his bayonet, fearlessly pressed forward in an endeavor to establish contact with the left assault platoon and assisted in wiping out several Germans defending an important tunnel leading to the road. The next day his body was found, surrounded by three of the enemy he had killed single-handedly in a fight to the death. Technical Sergeant Averitte's heroic, aggressive actions and supreme devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 2d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 137 (June 11, 1945)

Burial

Technical Sergeant Archie F. Averitte is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France, in Plot H, Row 2, Grave 1.

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