This stiff German resistance explains why, two weeks later, Wirt and his men were in the fight of their lives. Now Capt. Charles Wirt (he had just been promoted) was leading his company as part of a larger regimental attack against German defensive positions. The battle climaxed when Wirt’s unit, which had occupied Giesbach and was now defending it against enemy attacks, suffered horrendous casualties as the Germans forced two of Wirt’s platoons out of their defensive positions.

Recognizing the danger to his two platoons, Wirt moved under intense fire from German machine guns and artillery to reorganize the Americans and lead them back into position. Ignoring the increasing danger from the close range of enemy fire, Wirt advanced to within a short distance of an enemy artillery piece and put it out of action with a rifle grenade, killing the five Germans who constituted the crew.

During the Korean War, then-Lt. Col. Charles Wirt commanded three different battalions on three different occasions, a reflection of his recognized excellence as a combat leader.

Then, as the Germans increased the ferocity of their attack and threatened to overrun the American defenders, Wirt displayed truly extraordinary heroism. He ordered his soldiers to take cover while he fired alone at the Germans. After he had killed ten of the enemy, Wirt called artillery fire onto his own position. After a three-hour artillery barrage, Wirt then led his reinforced company in a brilliant counterattack, successfully driving the Germans back with heavy losses, and securing the flank of an entire battalion.  For his phenomenal combat leadership that day, Wirt was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor as an award for combat gallantry.

At the end of the fighting in Germany, Wirt wore the ribbons of the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. He became the executive officer of 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry and moved to Berlin for occupation duties. After returning to the U.S., Wirt was assigned to Fort Benning, where he completed airborne and pathfinder training. Amazingly, he then entered Army aviation training and qualified as both a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot in 1949 before returning to complete Jumpmaster School and qualify as a senior parachutist in 1950.

During the Korean War, then-Lt. Col. Charles Wirt commanded three different battalions on three different occasions, a reflection of his recognized excellence as a combat leader. He commanded a battalion in the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and two battalions in the 17th Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. For an officer to have two battalion commands is unusual, but three is a real rarity. From the Korean peninsula, Wirt transferred directly to Europe, where he took command of the U.S. Seventh Army’s aviation training center.

Wirt returned to the United States and Fort Leavenworth, where he was involved in Lt. Gen. Hamilton H. Howze’s study group examining how the Army could best use helicopters and fixed wing aircraft in future military operations.

Wirt retired as lieutenant colonel in 1963 with 29 years active duty. He worked for General Electric until retiring again in 1970. Charles Wirt died in August 1981, at age sixty-one. He is interred at the West Point cemetery.

 

Wirt’s Distinguished Service Cross Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Charles Alvin Wirt (ASN: 0-25725), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Company G, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Germany, on 24 March 1945. After taking the town of Geisbach, Germany, on the night of 24 March 1945, Captain Wirt’s company was counterattacked by a numerically superior enemy force, supplemented by three self-propelled weapons and a heavy tank, and was forced to fall back. Captain Wirt reorganized his men, personally silenced a self-propelled gun with accurate rifle-grenade fire and then, realizing the odds against them were too great, ordered his men into basements and called for an artillery barrage on the area. Strengthened by reinforcements he boldly led his men in a counterattack, driving the enemy from the town and inflicting heavy casualties. Captain Wirt’s heroic leadership and courageous actions exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 137 (June 11, 1945)