Eugene G. Inzer Wins Battlefield Commission - Richland Parish, LA
Submitted by: Ray Bartlett

Source: Local Newspaper

Date: 24 June 2004




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March 31, 1945

Eugene Inzer Wins Battlefield Commission

With the 70th Division of the Seventh Army in France.łA
"battlefield commission," one of the highest honors that can be
paid to an American soldier, has been won by Eugene G. Inzer,
Rayville, Louisiana, of the 274th Infantry, 70th (Trailblazer)
Infantry Division. He was made secondlieutenant directly from the
rank of staff sergeant.

 Battlefield commissions are awarded only to combat soldiers who
have demonstrated their leadership, ability and courage in actual
fighting. The new lieutenant won his in January in one of the first
engagements the Trailblazers took part in. As part of Von
RunstedtĘs winter offensive westward, the Germans had massed strong
concentrations, in-cluding SS Mountain Troopers, against the 70th.
At Wingen and Phillipsbourg, France, the Trailblazers won their
first victory at the same time they received their baptism of fire.

  The Trailblazers were organized at Camp Adair, Oregon, in June,
1943, and trained there and at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, before
they came to France late in December and joined the Seventh Army.
Major General Allison J. Barnett, former Chief of Staff, U. S. Army
Forces, SouthPacific Area, commands them, and Brig. Gen. Thomas W.
Herren, assistantdivision commander, directed the January
operations.



The aforementioned newspaper article was mailed to the submitter
by Mrs.Dorothy Inzer, wife of Eugene G. Inzer, who read my earlier
transcription of Staff Sergeant InzerĘs award of the Bronze Star.
The Inzers now live in Texas.