The late Charles Gross, a resident of Spring Valley, served in the US Army during World War II and was the recipient of a Silver Star medal for Gallantry in Action.
Four men would receive Silver Stars the same day as he received his – three were awarded posthumously.
Gross received his award for his bravery during a battle near Kapfelburg, Germany.
T/5 Charles Gross, a medic, was awarded in connection with an April 26, 1945 Army Corps of Engineers assault crossing the Danube River.
The citation reads:
“Gross constantly exceeded the requirements of his duty in endangering his life to save those of his comrades. Taking only momentary shelter against particularly withering blasts of fire, he repeatedly ran through shell fire, in order to answer to the familiar cry of “MEDIC!” Time after time T/-5 GROSS aided in the evacuation of wounded men, directing jeeps, leading other aid men to the casualties. His inspiring devotion to the creed of the MEDICAL CORPS is in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces.”
“This memory of my dad’s heroism in the face of certain death brings tears to my eyes every time I read it even though decades have gone by since he was awarded,” said his son, Hank Gross, founder and managing editor of MidHudsonNews.com.
The first-person account of the events leading to T/5 Gross’ Silver Star may be read here,
💬 Sgt. Gross died on his 76th birthday on November 21, 1992.
