Memorial

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1st Lt Jake L. Wertich enlisted at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on 31 January 1941.

Between 7 and 11 January 1945 his unit re-took the town of Goronne, Belgium near Grand Halleux.

Actually he was not killed in action in Goronne but above Trois-Ponts on 21 December 1944. His body was only recovered on 8 January 1945 and that's why some archives mention a wrong place of death.

Cpl Gordon Walberg remembered what happend on that tragic day: "We entered Trois-Ponts and arrived to a blown bridge on the Salm River with a Sherman M-4 tank knocked out to the left side. Capt Norman Nelsen, A Battery Commander, ordered the two 57mm anti-tank guns to be placed on the mountain road up the hill which turned sharply to the right in direction of Wanne-Aisomont. We set up our gun 30 to 40 yards behind the bend of the road to the rear of Lt Wertich’s gun. When the first gun would be overrun or knocked out by any German Panzers, they would proceed around the curve and would offer me a flank shot.

Shortly after we had the guns set up, everything broke loose. Sgt Richard Scott was wounded and Lt Jake Wertich was killed by two shots to the head. He was later posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross."

The citation for the Distinguished Service Cross, which was awarded to him posthumously cited: to 1st Lt Jake L. Wertich for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 21 December 1944 at Trois-Ponts, Belgium. When an enemy attack caused the forward troops to withdraw, Lt Wertich refused to be driven from his gun. When all members of his crew were killed or wounded, he manned his gun himself, covering the withdrawal of the company from the hill. Even when the enemy over-ran his position, Lt Wertich remained at his gun, thereby keeping the enemy tanks out of position and assuring success of the maneuver. His gallant action saved the lives of many members of his battalion and aided materially in repulsing a strong enemy attack had the city of Liège, Belgium, as it objective. Lt Wertich is known to have knocked out two enemy tanks in the action which cost him his life. His personal bravery, invincible courage and self-sacrifice were an inspiration to those around him and exemplified the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States, reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Army. Great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

Together with the other killed members of the battalion, he is remembered on a plaque at Trois-Ponts.