The Case for the Medal of Honor

Over three days LTC Gorham and a small band of soldiers stopped three German armored attacks, thus accomplishing the entire Parachute Infantry Regiments’ mission and ensured the safe landing of the First Infantry Division.

 General Matthew Ridgeway: "The action which resulted in his death was typical of his inspiring leadership, for it was he that personally instilled the spirit of the attack at a time that those around him were thinking only of defense, and in person led the attack, which succeeded. His indomitable spirit acknowledged no odds.”

Throughout the engagements LTC Gorham exposed himself at personal risk to

encourage his troops and direct their fire. During an engagement without concern for his personal safety, repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he ran from one position to the next, demonstrating to his troopers, using an M1 rifle, how to fire at the tanks’ vision slits. Personally, used a bazooka to destroy enemy tanks. On the second such action he was killed, but in his death the troops were motivated to defeat the third enemy armored attack in 3 days.

 Colonel Jim Gavin: “Colonel Gorham and his small group of troopers…accomplished all of the missions assigned to the entire regimental combat team. It was a remarkable performance, and I know of nothing like it that occurred at any time later in the war.”