Raymond Zussman(July 23, 1917 – September 21, 1944) was asecond lieutenantin theUnited States Armyand a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—theMedal of Honor—for his actions in France duringWorld War II.
Raymond Zussman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 23, 1917 Hamtramck, Michigan |
| Died | September 21, 1944(aged 27) near Noroy-le-Bourg, France |
| Buried | Machpelah Cemetery,Ferndale, Michigan |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1944 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | 756th Tank Battalion |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
Biography
editZussman was born July 23, 1917, inHamtramck, Michiganto Nathan Zussman and Rebecca Leah. Raymound Zussman had seven siblings and his father ran a shoe store.[1]Zussman as boy sang in hissynagogue’s choir. He attendedCentral High Schoolin Detroit. A boy of small stature, Zussman joined the high schoolfootballteam despite his coach's skepticism. After graduating from high school, Zussman joinedTeamstersLocal 337 in Detroit, eventually rising to the position ofshop stewardat his place of employment.[2]Zussman spent one year of college atWayne State Universityand also took night classes inmetallurgy.[1]
In September 1941, Zussman joined theUS Army.[3]Prior to becoming atankcommander, Zussman was an instructor instreet fightingatFort KnoxinKentucky.[2]In June 1943, he participated in the allied invasion of North Africa and after that the invasion of Italy. After being wounded at thebattle of Monte Cassinoin Italy, the Army offered Zussman a Headquarters position. Zussman declined, stating he wanted another front line position; he was then assigned to a tank unit in France.[1]
By September 12, 1944, Zussman was serving as asecond lieutenant,commanding tanks of the756th Tank Battalion.On that day, during a battle in the city ofNoroy-le-Bourg,France, Zussman repeatedly went forward alone to scout enemy positions and exposed himself to enemy fire while directing his tank's action, under Zussman's leadership 18 German soldiers were killed and another 92 were captured.[4]
On September 21, 1944, nine days after the battle at Noroy-le-Bourg, Zussman was killed by a Germanmortar bombblast.[1]
On May 24, 1945, at a graduation ceremony at theUnited States Army Armor School(then located at Fort Knox) Zussman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Noroy-le-Bourg. Zussman's father gave a thank you address to the graduating class.[1]
On June 6, 1949, Zussman was disinterred from a military cemetery and reburied in Machpelah Cemetery inFerndale, Michigan.The city government of Detroit wanted Zussman to lie in state atDetroit City Hall,but Zussman's distraught father declined the honor, due to religious prohibitions.[1]
Memorials
editIn 1944, the U.S. Army launchedLt. Raymond Zussman(FS-246),a small wooden cargo ship named for Zussman.[5]
In 1997, the Army started work on Zussman Village, amilitary operations in urban terrain(MOUT) training center forurban warfareat Fort Knox.[6]
The Zussman Playground in Detroit is named after Raymond Zussman.[2]
Zussman Park located in front of City Hall inHamtramck,Michigan, is named after Raymond Zussman.
Raymond Zussman's story and Medal of Honor are on permanent display at the Michigan Heroes Museum in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Medal of Honor citation
editSecond Lieutenant Zussman's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
On 12 September 1944, 2d Lt. Zussman was in command of 2 tanks operating with an infantry company in the attack on enemy forces occupying the town of Noroy le Bourg, France. At 7 p.m., his command tank bogged down. Throughout the ensuing action, armed only with acarbine,hereconnoiteredalone on foot far in advance of his remaining tank and theinfantry.Returning only from time to time to designate targets, he directed the action of the tank and turned over to the infantry the numerous German soldiers he had caused to surrender. He located a road block and directed his tanks to destroy it. Fully exposed to fire from enemy positions only 50 yards distant, he stood by his tank directing its fire. Three Germans were killed and 8 surrendered. Again he walked before his tank, leading it against an enemy-held group of houses,machine gunand small arms fire kicking up dust at his feet. The tank fire broke the resistance and 20 enemy surrendered. Going forward again alone he passed an enemy-occupied house from which Germans fired on him and threwgrenadesin his path. After a brief fire fight, he signaled his tank to come up and fire on the house. Eleven German soldiers were killed and 15 surrendered. Going on alone, he disappeared around a street corner. The fire of his carbine could be heard and in a few minutes he reappeared driving 30 prisoners before him. Under 2d Lt. Zussman's heroic and inspiring leadership, 18 enemy soldiers were killed and 92 captured.[7]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^abcdef"Zussman, Raymond (MOH), 2LT".Together We Served.Retrieved12 April2014.
- ^abc"Raymond Zussman".Telling the Story of Detroit Parks.Retrieved10 April2014.
- ^WWII Army Enlistment Records
- ^"Raymond Zussman | World War II | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient".Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
- ^"AFSC Historical Corner: Penguin II, Pribilof Islands Tender (1950–64)".NOAa Fisheries.Retrieved11 April2014.
- ^"Army Training Site Brings To Life the Horrors of War".National Defense.July 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2010.Retrieved11 April2014.
- ^"Medal of Honor recipients – World War II (T–Z)".Medal of Honor citations.United States Army Center of Military History.June 8, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 6,2007.
External links
edit- "Raymond Zussman".Hall of Valor.Military Times.RetrievedFebruary 11,2010.
- Raymond ZussmanatFind a Grave