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James H. Fields
James H. Fields (June 26, 1920 – June 17, 1970) was a United States Army captain and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration for valor—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in France during World War II. BiographyFields was born in Caddo, Texas, on June 26, 1920. He graduated from the first graduating class from Mirabeau Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, in 1939. He attended the University of Oklahoma before he was drafted into the U.S. Army from Houston in February 1942,[3] and by September 27, 1944, was serving as a first lieutenant and a platoon commander in Company A, 10th Armored Infantry Battalion (redesignated from the 10th Armored Infantry Regiment in September 1943), 4th Armored Division. On September 27, 1944, he led the first platoon of Company A, located on top of Hill 265 near Rechicourt, France, for a counterattack on enemy positions the next morning. That night, when he heard German voices, he told his platoon to dig in. In the morning, his platoon became pinned down by withering crossfire from two machine guns and the threat of a German tank. During the battle, half of the platoon became casualties. Calls over the radio to his unit's anti-tank officer went unanswered. Some of Fields' men wished to surrender because of the hopeless situation, and he replied "I would rather die than surrender." In the ensuing battle, he instructed his only medic not to move; no sooner had he had given the order, the medic abandoned his position and was shot dead. As Fields described the situation, "The medic was five pounds heavier with lead when he fell." Fields picked up a pistol to attempt to save the medic, and while doing so was shot through the face, knocking out several teeth and almost severing his tongue. Undeterred, Fields obtained some gauze and wedged it in his mouth to limit the bleeding. He then picked up a .30 caliber machine gun, and firing from the hip, was able to silence both enemy machine guns. He then began giving orders for a counterattack. The men regained their courage and were able to repel the enemy. Fields refused to be evacuated until he reported his position and the strength of the enemy. After reporting, injured as he was, he found the officer who didn't answer his calls and pummeled him. Fields was awarded the Medal of Honor five months later, on February 27, 1945. James H. Fields was the first person decorated in the field with the Medal of Honor by General George S. Patton Jr., and was promoted to captain. After Fields received his Medal of Honor, General Patton sent Fields back to the United States. General Patton stated in his memoir "War as I Knew It," "I told Gaffey I did not want Lieutenant Fields sent to the front again, because it has been my unfortunate observation that whenever a man gets the Medal of Honor or even the Distinguished Service Cross, he usually attempts to outdo himself and gets killed, whereas, in order to produce a virile race, such men should be kept alive." After the war, he became an independent oil operator in Texas, married, and had four children. He died on June 17, 1970, at age 49. He was buried on June 20 in the Houston National Cemetery, in Houston, Texas.[4] Awards and decorationsField's military awards include: Medal of Honor citationFields' Medal of Honor citation reads: 
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