Ohio National Guard News

World War II Soldier, killed in action,
to receive Silver Star posthumously

By Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Pvt. Marvin L. Rouhier (right) with family members Lawrence (left), Shirley and Bernard


Silver Star MedalCOLUMBUS, Ohio — The Silver Star Medal will be presented posthumously to Pvt. Marvin L. Rouhier's surviving siblings during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18 at Wooster High School Performing
Arts Center in Wooster, Ohio.

Brig. Gen. John C. Harris, Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, will present the medal on behalf
of Lt. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commanding general, Third Army, U.S. Army Central. Lt. Col. David S. Cannon, Third Army/ARCENT Special Troops Battalion commander, will represent Brooks at the ceremony.

After graduating from Wooster High School in 1942, Rouhier served in the U.S. Third Army during World War II. He survived the Battle of Cherbourg and the Normandy Breakout before he was killed in action
Aug. 18, 1944, outside of Allaines, France.

Rouhier's unit, the 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion, attached to the 5th Infantry Division of Patton's Third Army, advanced towards Chartres, France in August 1944. He and another Soldier were stationed at an observation post when a column of German tanks advanced toward their position. Rouhier alerted his headquarters of the impending attack and courageously delayed the enemy who outnumbered and outgunned him in his vulnerable position. Later reconnaissance revealed that 20 vehicles were involved in the attack.

Shot early in the exchange and suffering from mortal wounds, Rouhier continued to communicate the enemy's position, while simultaneously destroying critical equipment, including his radio, to prevent its capture by the enemy. He continued to provide covering fire, so that his fellow Soldier could escape. As a result of his gallantry, the German attack was thwarted and his comrade survived.

"Pvt. Rouhier displayed the highest type of courage by remaining in his position and returning the enemy's fire until he was fatally wounded," said the citation written on Oct. 24, 1944.

Rouhier paid the ultimate sacrifice that sunny afternoon, thousands of miles from his home on Buckeye Street in Wooster. For his fearless actions he was awarded the third highest military award for valor — the Silver Star Medal.

Orders awarding the medal to Rouhier were published and documented during World War II. However, an official capable of facilitating the formal presentation to a surviving family member did not come in contact with the orders. Rouhier's nephew, Charles Rouhier, discovered the orders through researching his family's heritage and asked Third Army's assistance in recognizing his deceased uncle.

Brig. Gen. John C. Harris Jr. (left), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, presents the Silver Star Medal to Lloyd Rouhier (center) and Charles Rouhier, relatives of Pvt. Charles Rouhier, Aug. 18, 2012, in Wooster, Ohio. (Ohio National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Kresge)

Joe Prince (right), representative from the Society of the Fifth Division, presents a gift to Marjorie Bonham, Rouhier's sister, while her nephew, Charles Rouhier, looks on. (Ohio National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Kresge)