Merril F. Raab

According to the official history of the 179th Infantry Regiment, on September 22, 1944, "The Germans counter-attacked Easy while the company was forming on the eastern bank [of the Moselle River in the city of Epinal, France]. "E" fought back furiously. When one squad's machine gunner was hit, Pfc. Merril F Raab took over the firing, moving the gun even further forward to gain a greater field of grazing fire. Seriously wounded by sniper fire that pinged all around him, Raab nevertheless stuck to his gun until the attack was repelled. "E" regained the offensive and pushed on, but without Pfc. Raab. who died of his wounds the next morning."

source: The story of a regiment, a history of the 179th Regimental Combat by Warren P. Munsell