First Sergeant Paul N. Eddy, DSC

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), 351st Infantry Regiment

Fifth Army

General Orders, Number 153

23 September 1944

PAUL N. EDDY, (13028393), First Sergeant, Infantry, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in action, on 3 June 1944, near Monte Proziocatini, Italy. While advancing towards its objective, the company in which First Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) EDDY was a squad leader was pinned down by intense enemy small arms and mortar fire from well entrenched and well camouflaged positions. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, and cognizant that his company could not advance until this fire was neutralized, First Sergeant EDDY quickly moved his squad into a position to fire on the emplacements. Observing that the machine guns were doing the most damage, he then purposely exposed himself with the intent of inducing a movement at the guns. As a result, he discovered one gun as it fired at him, and he instructed his squad to cover him while he crawled toward it. Using hand grenades, First Sergeant EDDY destroyed this machine gun nest, killing three German occupants and capturing another. Again using the same ruse by exposing himself, First Sergeant EDDY was able to bring fire from another machine gun nest, and he crawled forward approximately fifty yards to neutralize the position with hand grenades and his sub-machine gun, killing two more Germans. In compelling the seven remaining Germans in the area to surrender it was necessary for First Sergeant EDDY to wound four of them. As he was reorganizing his squad and sending the prisoners back, he observed mortar fire coming over a hill to the front. First Sergeant EDDY quickly maneuvered his squad and skillfully led his men to surround and capture the entire enemy mortar crew of eight men. During this action, First Sergeant EDDY single-handedly killed five and captured eight Germans, led the capture of eight others, and was instrumental in the successful advance of his company against stiff enemy resistance. His skillful leadership and fearless actions, far above and beyond the call of duty, were an inspiration to the entire battalion and will be long remembered in the annals of the American Infantryman. Entered military service from Crewe, Virginia.

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General Orders No. 153, Headquarters, Fifth Army, 23 September 1944; World War II Operational and Unit Records; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Record Group 407; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

Photo: "1SGT Paul Norman Eddy," Find a Grave, Memorial no. 77114274, accessed August 26, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77114274/paul-norman-eddy.

Note: Sgt Eddy was a member of Company F, 351st at the time of the action.