While preparing to attack the strongly held German Anzio-Nettuno defense line near Cisterna, Italy, on 26 May 1944, First Lieutenant Beryl Newman was fired upon by two enemy machine guns located on the crest of a hill about 100 yards to his front. 1LT Newman called back to his platoon and ordered one squad to advance to him and the other to flank the enemy to the right. From this range, his fire was ineffective in covering the advance of his squads, and enemy fire pinned down one squad. Seeing that his squad was unable to advance, 1LT Newman, in full view of the enemy gunners and in the face of their continuous fire, advanced alone on the enemy nests. He returned fire with his Tommy gun and succeeded in wounding a German in each of the nests. The remaining two Germans fled from their position into a nearby house. Three more enemy soldiers then came out of the house and ran toward a third machine gun.
1LT Newman, still relentlessly advancing toward them, killed one before he reached the gun, the second before he could fire it, and the third fled for his life back into the house. Covering his assault by firing into the doors and windows of the house, 1LT Newman, boldly attacking by himself, called for the occupants to surrender to him. Gaining the house, he kicked in the door and went inside. Although armed with rifles and machine pistols, the 11 Germans there, apparently intimidated, surrendered to the Lieutenant without further resistance. 1LT Newman, single-handed, had silenced three enemy machine guns, wounded two Germans, killed two more, and took 11 prisoners.
1LT Beryl Newman was inducted into the Hall of Valor in 2011.
