FAIR J. BRYANT Citation for Bronze Star Medal HEADQUARTERS VIII CORPS OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL Citation

MAJOR FAIR J. BRYANT, K100001, Field Artillery, 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy from 25 September 1944 to 8 May 1945 in Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. In the operations of this battalion it has been necessary to cover the whole front of the First United States Army and portions of the fronts of the Third and Ninth United States Armies, and to work with the artillery of many corps, divisions and other units. The field work and office work necessary in such large scale operations have been carried out with care, exactness and punctuality as a result of the efforts of Major Bryant. The devotion to duty and aggressiveness as displayed by this officer are in keeping with the traditions of the military service. Entered military service from Alabama.

The 285th FAOB was to the southeast of the V Corps during the initial stages of the Battle of the Bulge and was overrun. Battery "B" of the 285th was captured by the German Combat Command Pieper and subjected to the Malmedy Massacre in which over 65 members of this specialized survey and observation battalion were captured, disarmed, and then slaughtered. This was the worst atrocity committed against U.S. troops in the European theater of operations.