| Original caption: “American soldier lies dead in gutter of Schevenhutte, Germany, after being hit by flak from German guns. Medics had just given first aid, to no avail.” The 4th Infantry Division began its assault on Schevenhutte, Germany, in mid-November 1944 as part of the Hürtgen Forest Campaign. On November 15, 1944, the 4th Medical Battalion, attached to the 4th Infantry Division, received 27 new personnel, filling less than half of the existing vacancies. The need for medics remained acute throughout the month. Schevenhutte was defended by minefields and artillery fire. As Company D of the 4th Medical Battalion approached a company with heavy casualties on November 17, 1944, in 2 ambulances, they came under heavy fire and drove into a minefield. United States Army 1st Lieutenant Joseph H. Mache, Jr. (December 18, 1921 – October 4, 2002) Medical Administrative Corps, 4th Medical Battalion, dismounted his detail and brought the litter bearers through the minefields. Mache noticed a wounded man in an exposed position; he crawled to his location and effected his safe removal. Working into the night, Mache and Company D’s litter bearers loaded the ambulances and removed the wounded from the area. Mache, wounded in action, received his 2nd Silver Star for this action. Mache worked for DuPont and Rayoneer, running their overseas operations. Upon retirement, he cultivated a vineyard outside of Buffalo, New York. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0341.jpg |
| Image Size | 946.91 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2444 x 2910 |
| Photographer | Sergeant J. A. DeMarco |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 22, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Schevenhutte |
| State or Province | Stolberg |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-112-SGA-44(30564) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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