U.S. Congressman Frank Lucas presented the Silver Star Award to the family of Emil Larson today at a ceremony in El Reno, Okla., more than sixty years after the World War II soldier’s heroic efforts to overrun a machine gun nest under heavy German fire.
Lucas worked with the Larson family to correct the military’s clerical error in not notifying or awarding Staff Sergeant Larson his medal for gallantry in action. Larson was a 25-year old soldier from a farm near Hydro, Oklahoma when circumstances found him and his squad under heavy enemy fire.
"Emil Larson is an American hero," Lucas said. "It’s hard to believe that this award is 60 years delayed, but I’m pleased the family pursued making this tribute to a man whose actions on the battlefield are an inspiration to us all."
According to military accounts, Larson and his squad were under fire at the Regnitz River in Furth in southern Germany in 1945. Larson attempted to lead the squad three times across the river, but was beaten back each time by German machine gun and anti-tank gun fire.
Larson then led the squad across the ruins of a partially destroyed bridge and, according to the military report on the battle, "engaged the enemy in a bitter fire fight on the opposite bank. Locating an enemy machine gun, he fearlessly made his way forward through the hail of fire to within th25 yards" of the machine gun nest.
Larson then lobbed two grenades into the machine gun nest, killing one enemy soldier and exposing two more to his gun. Then Larson stormed into the nest, killing the rest of the crew, but not before being seriously wounded. His efforts contributed to the U.S. control of the city of Furth and the surrender of 3,000 enemy troops.
"This farm boy from Caddo County looked death in the face on that bridge in Germany, and kept charging forward," Lucas said. "He believed in something greater than himself, and because of him, and brave men like him, we will be forever in his debt."
Larson died in 1989, and is survived by his wife, Nora Jo Larson, who accepted the medal on his behalf, along with more than a dozen of Larson’s family.
The Silver Star is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the third highest given for valor in the face of the enemy. Other recipients of the Silver Star were Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, and Norman Schwarzkopf.
