One American squad was forced back, another captured, leaving only SSG Schaefer's men to defend the position.

To shift his squad into a house which would afford better protection, he crawled about under heavy small-arms and machinegun fire, instructed each individual, and moved to the building.

By this time the rest of his company had begun a counterattack; he moved forward to assist another platoon to regain its position.

Remaining in the lead, crawling and running in the face of heavy fire, he overtook the enemy, and liberated the American squad captured earlier in the battle.

Schaefer's indomitable courage and his determination to hold his position at all costs were responsible for stopping an enemy break-through.