Memorial

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Pfc Manuel Salas was employed at Missouri Pacific Railroad Company.

With Second Infantry Division. Men of this division today told how an entire squad of doughboys chose to die in order to allow their buddies to escape from a death trap during the recent German counter offensive.

Obeying the order to hold their position at all costs, the Second Platoon of Co. K, 23rd Inf. Regt., repelled repeated attacks until surrounded on three sides. When Tiger tanks appeared and began firing point blank into the foxhole, the platoon was ordered to withdraw.

The Second Squad called back, "Get everybody else out first. We´ll cover them". As the rest withdrew they saw the attackers concentrating their fury on the tine point of resistance. German tanks crashed through the scrub pine growth to fire into the foxholes. Emptying their weapons at the waves of Germans, the men climbed from their holes swinging their rifle butts. That was the last their buddies saw of them.

Officially listed as missing in action: S/Sgt Fred J. Schaeffer, Sgt Leonard W. Story, Pfc Charles W. Schnair, Pfc Walter L. Gates, Pvt John Diamond, Pvt John Swedlick and Pvt Manuel Salas.