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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Sgt. Ralph G. Neppel
Only five Iowans received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nations highest military tribute, during World War II. Two of them attended Buena Vista College, and if you take a walk across the BVU campus between the Lage Communication Center and the Estelle Siebens Science Center, youll find a memorial to Capt. Darrell R. Lindsey and Sgt. Ralph G. Neppel.
On December 14, 1944, the 21-year-old Neppel, a farm boy from Glidden, Iowa, was crouched by the corner of a building in Birgel, Germany, waiting as a Nazi tank and 20 Nazi infantrymen approached to within 100 feet. Neppel was a machine gun detachment leader, and his Army squad had been sent to defend two main streets in the village from a German counterattack. What happened next changed Neppels life forever.
"I really didnt do much," said the humble Neppel years later. "It was just a question of fighting on and doing what a fellow could or get killed."
Others would disagree, and thats why President Harry Truman pinned the Medal of Honor on Ralph Neppel at the White House on August 23, 1945.
For Neppel held his ground that winter day in Germany, even as the Nazi tank fired a shell at point-blank range. Even though the explosion severed his right leg below the knee, severely shredded his left leg and knocked him back 10 yards from his gun, Neppel inched forward on his elbows and crawled to his gun, firing until the tank turned and left. Eight hours later, he was evacuated, only after insisting a wounded sergeant be taken first.
Neppels left leg ended up being amputated, as well, but no one ever heard Neppel complain about his injury. In fact, with consummate cheerfulness, he would revel in the opportunities it gave him to play practical jokes. For example, Neppel owned different sets of artificial limbs with varying lengths. When he would go to parties, he would start out wearing the set that put him at his normal height, but as the evening progressed, he would change legs and walk back in much shorter or much taller, just to get laughs.
Upon returning from the war, Neppel attended Buena Vista College, graduating in 1952. He went on to work as a Veterans Administration representative and served on the Governors Committee for Employment of the Handicapped. Neppel died in 1987 after a battle with cancer. All considered him a hero for his service during WWII, except for one person -- himself. Neppel would tell you, "The heroes dont live."
Darrell Lindsey didnt. He had attended Buena Vista College from 1939 to 1940 before enlisting with the Army Air Corps. On August 9, 1944, Lindsey found himself flying the lead bomber in a formation over the Seine River in France. His hazardous mission was to destroy a key bridge, but during the approach, his planes right engine received a direct hit and burst into flames.
Knowing his fuel tanks might explode at any moment, Lindsey remained composed and piloted the plane over the target to complete his mission. He then immediately gave the order for his crew to parachute to safety from the doomed aircraft, while he held the swiftly descending plane in a steady glide.
The bombardier, who was last to leave the plane, offered to lower the wheels so Lindsey could escape from the nose of the plane. But Lindsey refused, knowing this would likely force the plane into a spin and jeopardize the bombardiers chances to bail out. Just as the bombardier jumped to safety, the fuel tank exploded, and the plane went into a steep dive -- Darrell Lindsey went down with it.
Lindseys widow Evelyn accepted his posthumously-awarded Medal of Honor in 1945. The citation stated, "All who are living today from this plane owe their lives to the fact that Captain Lindsey remained cool and showed supreme courage in this emergency."
Lindsey and Neppel both were, indeed, heroes.
CITATION:
NEPPEL, RALPH G.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 329th Infantry, 83d Infantry Division. Place and date: Birgel, Germany, 14 December 1944. Entered service at: Glidden, Iowa. Birth: Willey, Iowa. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He was leader of a machinegun squad defending an approach to the village of Birgel, Germany, on 14 December 1944, when an enemy tank, supported by 20 infantrymen, counterattacked. He held his fire until the Germans were within 100 yards and then raked the foot soldiers beside the tank killing several of them. The enemy armor continued to press forward and, at the pointblank range of 30 yards, fired a high-velocity shell into the American emplacement, wounding the entire squad. Sgt. Neppel, blown 10 yards from his gun, had 1 leg severed below the knee and suffered other wounds. Despite his injuries and the danger from the onrushing tank and infantry, he dragged himself back to his position on his elbows, remounted his gun and killed the remaining enemy riflemen. Stripped of its infantry protection, the tank was forced to withdraw. By his superb courage and indomitable fighting spirit, Sgt. Neppel inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke a determined counterattack.
Burial: Holy Family Cemetery
Lidderdale, Carroll County
Iowa, USA
Photo courtesy of Find A Grave
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