World War II Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions on Christmas Day, near Chaumont, Belgium, in 1944

(1921-2011) Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Wiedorfer joined the United States Army in July 1943, and did his basic training at Camp Lee, Virginia. On Christmas Day, 1944, near Chaumont, Belgium, Wiedorfer single-handedly charged across 40 yards of wide open ground, destroyed two German machine gun emplacements and took six Germans prisoner. He was subsequently promoted to staff sergeant, and on May 29, 1945, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration, for his actions during the battle. While crossing the Saar River, he was severely wounded on February 10, 1945, by a mortar shell that blew up near him; shrapnel broke his left leg, ripped into his stomach, and seriously injured two fingers on his right hand. The soldier next to him died from his wounds and Wiedorfer credited that soldier for saving his life. Recent research has discovered the soldier's name to be PFC Milton C Smithers of Huntingdon, New Jersey. Paul J. Wiedorfer was evacuated to the 137th United States Army General Hospital in England where he was placed in traction. While in the hospital a sergeant reading Stars and Stripes asked him how he spelled his name, and then told him he had received the Medal of Honor. Later, on May 29, 1945, Brigadier General Egmont F. Koenig with a band entered the ward and presented him with his medal of honor. In addition to the Medal of Honor he was also awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He returned to Baltimore on June 11, 1945, and was given a ticker tape parade with General George C. Marshall, and Maryland Governor Herbert O'Conor in attendance. Wiedorfer died in Baltimore on May 25, 2011, at age 90. He was buried in Baltimore's Moreland Memorial Park Cemetery, on June 7, 2011.

Card Signature With Inscription: 5 x 3 card, signed by Wiedorfer with superb inscription that he added in a dark black ink hand, "Paul J. Wiedorfer, C.M.H., U.S. Army, WWII, 80th Infantry Division, Chaumont, Belgium, December 25, 1944." Choice condition. Beautifully written. Extremely desirable Medal of Honor and World War II piece!

Wiedorfer's Official Medal of Honor Citation:

He alone made it possible for his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared a wooded area of snipers, and 1 platoon was advancing across an open clearing toward another wood when it was met by heavy machine gun fire from 2 German positions dug in at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked by enemy riflemen. The platoon took cover behind a small ridge approximately 40 yards from the enemy position. There was no other available protection and the entire platoon was pinned down by the German fire. It was about noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to a 3-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground. Pvt. Wiedorfer, realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until the 2 enemy machine gun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone across the slippery open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Running in a crouched position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped and fell in the snow, but quickly rose and continued forward with the enemy concentrating automatic and small-arms fire on him as he advanced. Miraculously escaping injury, Pvt. Wiedorfer reached a point some 10 yards from the first machine gun emplacement and hurled a hand grenade into it. With his rifle he killed the remaining Germans, and, without hesitation, wheeled to the right and attacked the second emplacement. One of the enemy was wounded by his fire and the other 6 immediately surrendered. This heroic action by 1 man enabled the platoon to advance from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully to reach its objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were wounded, Pvt. Wiedorfer assumed command of the platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission was accomplished.