On Christmas Day, 1944, First Lieutenant John R. Fox, an African American artillery observer with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion, found himself surrounded by German infantry in the Italian village of Sommocolonia. The Germans were overwhelming his position during the Battle of Garfagnana, a little-known diversionary attack supporting the Ardennes offensive.

Fox called in artillery fire on his own position. 'Fire it!' he radioed. 'There's more of them than there are of us. Fire it!'

The artillery barrage halted the German advance, killing Fox and approximately 100 enemy soldiers. Fox's sacrifice allowed his unit to reorganize and eventually retake the village. His body was found surrounded by dead German soldiers.

Fox was not awarded the Medal of Honor until 1997, when the Army reviewed cases of African American soldiers whose heroism had been ignored due to racial discrimination. Seven Black soldiers received Medals of Honor that day—all but one posthumously.

Fox's story exemplifies the 'Double V' campaign—victory against fascism abroad and victory against racism at home. He gave his life for a country that would not fully recognize his humanity for another 50 years.