Congressional Medal of Honor
Paul B. Huff
Cleveland Tennessee

Sgt. York's Home County Has Another Medal of Honor Man

Washington, June 4: Cpl. Paul B. Huff, whose home is the Tennessee hill country that sent Alvin York to fame in the other World War, is the nation's newest Congressional Medal of Honor Man.

The War Department announced Sunday that the 25-year-old ex-railroader from Cleveland, Tenn., will receive the medal at a ceremony overseas.

Huff, a parachute infantryman, won the award in action near Carano, Italy, last Feb. 8, when he volunteered to lead a six-man patrol into enemy territory to determine the strength of a German unit facing the Americans.

Rank and Organization

Place and Date

Entered Service At

Corporal, U. S. Army, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

Near Carano, Italy, February 8, 1944

Cleveland, Tenn.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, in action on 8 February 1944, near Carano, Italy. Cpl. Huff volunteered to lead a 6-man patrol with the mission of determining the location and strength of an enemy unit which was delivering fire on the exposed right flank of his company. The terrain over which he had to travel consisted of exposed, rolling ground, affording the enemy excellent visibility. As the patrol advanced, its members were subjected to small arms and machinegun fire and a concentration of mortar fire, shells bursting within 5 to 10 yards of them and bullets striking the ground at their feet. Moving ahead of his patrol, Cpl. Huff drew fire from 3 enemy machineguns and a 20mm. weapon. Realizing the danger confronting his patrol, he advanced alone under deadly fire through a minefield and arrived at a point within 75 yards of the nearest machinegun position. Under direct fire from the rear machinegun, he crawled the remaining 75 yards to the closest emplacement, killed the crew with his submachine gun and destroyed the gun. During this act he fired from a kneeling position which drew fire from other positions, enabling him to estimate correctly the strength and location of the enemy. Still under concentrated fire, he returned to his patrol and led his men to safety. As a result of the information he gained, a patrol in strength sent out that afternoon, 1 group under the leadership of Cpl. Huff, succeeded in routing an enemy company of 125 men, killing 27 Germans and capturing 21 others, with a loss of only 3  patrol members. Cpl. Huff's intrepid leadership and daring combat skill reflect the finest traditions of the American infantryman.