1920-1943
Second
Lt. Luther Sidney Gustafson
Born
October 8, 1920 in Rapelje, Stillwater County, Montana, Luther Sidney Gustafson
was one of
eight
children born to William Ferdinand and Alice Alameda (Klint) Gustafson.
Known
to friends and family as "Sid", he graduated from Gallatin High School
in Bozeman, Montana and later attended Montana State College, pursuing
courses in business administration. He was a member of the ROTC program
and was awarded a reserve commission in the Infantry on May 25, 1942.
Sid received his active duty orders in June of 1942 and was sent to Ft.
Benning, Georgia. He left for overseas duty in September of 1942.
Stationed in Scotland, he was trained for amphibious beach landing. Sid
was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regt., 9th Infantry
Div., nicknamed the "Falcons". Oct.26,1942, Sid left England (with
a convoy of 850 ships) on the USS Thomas Stone. They were the 1st unit
of U. S. Combat Troops to set foot on foreign soil when they stormed the
beaches of Algiers in November 1942. In January of 1943 he
was assigned a post in Tunisia, along the German front, and arrived in
Africa, November 19, 1942, where he remained until he lost his life in
the Battle of Tunisia on April 28, 1943. Sidney posthumously received
the Distinguished Service Cross, the Croix de Militaires Volontaires (the
2nd highest honor of the French Army), and the Order of the Purple Heart.
The
citation that accompanied the Distinguished Service Cross, stated: "Award
of the Distinguished Service Cross, Posthumous, to Lt. Luther S. Gustafson,
2nd Lt. Infantry, for extraordinary heroism in action, in April 1943, in
the Battle of Tunisia. During the advance of Lt. Gustafson's battalion
on Hill xxx, he led a combat patrol to secure this position. When
the patrol came under intense enemy machine gun fire, Lt. Gustafson deplored
them to form an effective firing line while he made a personal reconnaissance
of the emplacement. Locating the gun, he single handedly attacked
it with grenades and pistol and silenced it. During this heroic action,
Lt. Gustafson lost his life, but his fearless leadership and spirit of
self sacrifice so inspired his men that they held their position until
reinforcements were brought up. His devotion to duty and personal
courage are outstanding examples of the finest ideals of the military service."
Signed Lt. General George Patton Commanding General of the 7th Army in
Italy.
Luther
Sidney Gustafson is buried in the
North
Africa America Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.
He
was 22 years old.
.
Plot D, Row 17, Grave
10
North Africa American
Cemetery
Carthage, Tunisia
Rest in Peace
Written
by Coleen Mielke 2005