Cortez man

Cortez man's unit honored for heroism in World War II

Aug. 7, 2001

TESSA TURNQUIST, 16, of North St. Paul, Minn., paints a fence at the Medicine Horse Therapeutic Riding Center last week. She is one of nearly 500 teenagers who came to Cortez this summer to paint houses and host Bible schools as part of a religious mission.

Retired Cortez pharmacist Robert Maynes served in a regiment during World War II that recently was presented with the prestigious Presidential United citation for extraordinary heroism.

Maynes recently attended the formal presentation in Wichita, Kan., of the citation to the 222nd Infantry Regiment, of which he was a part during the war, as part of I Company, 3rd Battalion. This regiment was in the 42nd Rainbow Division, now a National Guard unit headquartered at Fort Drum, N.Y.

The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units in the U.S. Armed Forces for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after Dec. 7, 1941. The unit must display such gallantry, determination and espirit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it apart above the other units participating in the same campaign. This degree of heroism is the same as that which warrants awarding the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.

The citation for Maynes’ unit was approved Jan. 10 of this year — 57 years after the action that inspired it — and was given for the defense of the Alsace region of France during the Battle of the Bulge. The official award was made by Brig. Gen. Tuledo, a member of the division staff.

The citation reads:

The 222nd Infantry Regiment is cited for extraordinary and outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy on 24 and 25 January 1945, in the Bois D’Ohlungen, and the vicinity of Schweighausen and Neuborg, France.

On the night of 24 January 1945, the 22nd Infantry Regiment, under strength by half a Battalion of riflemen, yet necessarily extended over a 7,500-yard front, was attacked by five regiments from the 7th Parachute, 25th Panzer and 47th German VG Divisions which were supported by heavy artillery.

Ordered to hold at all costs, the Regiment withstood the enemy’s desperate bid to break the Seventh Army Moder River Line. Fighting back from ice-filled foxholes, the outnumbered defenders fought off wave after wave of enemy attacking along the Regiment’s front and infiltrating into friendly positions, well behind the Main Line of Resistance.

Wild fighting raged throughout the night and well into the next day as the fanatical attackers sought to break out into open country, but every measure was met with determined counter attacks.

On the night of the 25th, the frustrated enemy fell back to his original line, leaving the ground littered with enemy dead. Despite the loss of 237 officers and men, the 222nd Infantry Regiment held its position, exacting a heavy toll of men and equipment from the enemy.

The courage and devotion to duty shown by the members of the 222nd Infantry Regiment in smashing one of the enemy’s principal strategic efforts to reconquer Alsace, are worthy of emulation and exemplify the highest traditions of the Army of the United States.

In April 1945, the 3rd Battalion of the 222nd Regiment was the second American unit to enter the notorious Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, where they liberated hundreds of prisoners held by the Germans. Here, Maynes and other members of the company saw firsthand the atrocities and brutalities the SS had carried out.

Maynes continued serving his country in the Colorado National Guard, where he attained the rank of major before retiring.

Maynes is a lifetime member of the Cortez community, having served as mayor of Cortez and as a county commissioner. He was co-owner of Professional Pharmacy until his retirement. He was also involved in the establishment of the Cortez Cultural Center, where he continues to volunteer regularly. Maynes’ book about his wartime experiences, "Forged by the Furnace and the Fire," is available through Quality Bookstore.