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45th Tank Gunner Draws Enemy Firelo Aid infantrymenWITH U.S. 45TH DIV, Jan, 29—Exposing half his body, Sgt. Alvin Entzie stood up in his tank’s turret and fired a machinegun to draw enemy fire away from advancing infantrymen attempting to recapture a strategic hill position.Earlier, the northernmost outposts of Company K, 179th Infantry Regiment, had been overrun by North Koreans. Their advance was stopped by tanks of the 2nd platoon, 179th Tank Company, plus artillery and mortar fire.WITH HIS GUN masked by friendly troops, Entzie chose to fire his machinegun, pinning down some enemy gun crews, and drawing fire from others, in an effort to relieve some of the pressure on the infantry.Six Red direct-fire weapons started the action. Most of the North Korean fire was aimed at the “Great Northern,’’ EntzLe’s tank. He got one and possibly two of their weapons. Artillery, other tanks, and reeoilless rifles got the rest.“They’re firing at me. Can I fire at them?” Entzie shouted over the radio when the Reds attacked.“LET ’EM HAVE IT, boy,” 2d Lt. Robert S. Lappin, platoon leader, answered.While down in the tank getting more ammunition for his machinegun, a white-phosphorus shell hit the tank.“There goes Entzie,” someone said on the radio.“No, I’m down getting ammo. They haven’t got me yet,” he answered, and returned to firing his machinegun.His tank was hit twice, but it wasn’t disabled. None of his crew was hit.“If the infantry can stand out there and fight,” Entzie said, .“I can too.”
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Pacific Stars and Stripes
Tokyo, Tôkyô, JP
Fri, Jan 30, 1953
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Merry H.
USA 01 Feb 2025
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