Stephen R. Gregg, 90; Awarded Medal of Honor in World War II for Helping to Rescue 7 Soldiers

Stephen R. Gregg, a U.S. Army technical sergeant who was awarded the Medal of Honor for helping rescue seven comrades wounded during fighting in France in World War II, has died. He was 90.

Gregg died Feb. 4 at his home in Bayonne, N.J.

Gregg was advancing up a hill with his Army platoon on Aug. 27, 1944, near Montelimar, France, when enemy fire pinned them down. Seven soldiers were hit, and the fierce enemy fire prevented medics from attending to the wounded.

After grabbing a .30-caliber machine gun, Gregg trudged forward with a medic close behind.

Although hand grenades were being thrown at him, Gregg kept firing at the enemy positions, advancing up the hill. His dogged fire gave the medic time to drag the wounded to safety.

After he ran out of ammunition, he was surrounded by four Germans. But he was able to escape after U.S. forces opened fire on his captors.

He received his Medal of Honor in March 1945.

A native of New York City, Gregg grew up in Bayonne and worked as a welder in a shipyard before the war.

He was drafted into the Army in 1942 as a private with the Weapons Platoon, Company L, 143rd Infantry Regiment of the 36th Division. He served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany and was eventually promoted to second lieutenant.

He also was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with cluster, Purple Heart with cluster, French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. On Bastille Day in 2001, France honored him with its highest medal, the Legion of Honor.

After the war, he returned to a hero’s welcome in Bayonne. He worked for the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office for more than 50 years, retiring as chief of court officials.

In 1994, Hudson County renamed a park in his honor.

He is survived by a son, Stephen Jr.; a daughter, Susan; and two grandchildren.