Prussman, Ernest William, born 15-09-1921, in Baltimore, 
City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States, to Herbert Prussman (1894–1962) and his wife Helen Prussman (unknown–1972) 
Ernest had three brothers and one halfsister, Herbert Prussman (1918–1957), his twin brother, Earl Prussman (1921–1980), Calvin J Prussman (1926–2003) 
and Lois Elizabeth Prussman Lawrence (1918–1992).
In June 1938, the twins graduated from the Edison school 
within the Boston Public Schools system.
Prussman joined the US Army 
in October 1942; he was living on Parsons Street in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston at the time. He was a clerk in a chain store prior to his enlistment. Two of Prussman’s brothers also served in the military during the war; Herbert in the Army Air Forces 
and Calvin in the Navy. 
Prussman served as a private first class in the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. 
under command of Major General Donald Armpriester Stroh. 
Death and burial ground of Ernest William Prussman.
Ernest first saw action in France in July 1944. Two months later, on September 8, during combat near Loscoat (now an industrial district of Brest) in Brittany, Prussman advanced ahead of his unit and single-handedly captured several enemy soldiers and destroyed a machine gun nest before being killed, age 22. He was buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, Normandy, France.
On 19-04-1945, Prussman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 
In a Patriots’ Day ceremony in Boston, the award was presented to his mother by General Sherman Miles.
Buccacio Sculpture Services is proud to have created a monumental tribute to Private First Class Ernest W. Prussman, a local hero and Medal of Honor recipient whose bravery during World War II left an indelible mark on history. Erected in Brighton, Massachusetts, this larger-than-life bronze statue pays homage to Private Prussman’s courageous actions and serves as a lasting reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served during the war. 
In September 1945, The Boston Globe noted that Prussman was the sole Medal of Honor recipient from Boston during World War II.
Private First Class Prussman’s official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 08-09-1944, near Les Coates,[a] Brittany, France. When the advance of the flank companies of 2 battalions was halted by intense enemy mortar, machinegun, and sniper fire from a fortified position on his left, Private Prussman maneuvered his squad to assault the enemy fortifications. Hurdling a hedgerow, he came upon 2 enemy riflemen whom he disarmed. After leading his squad across an open field to the next hedgerow, he advanced to a machinegun position, destroyed the gun, captured its crew and 2 riflemen. Again advancing ahead of his squad in the assault, he was mortally wounded by an enemy rifleman, but as he fell to the ground he threw a handgrenade, killing his opponent. His superb leadership and heroic action at the cost of his life so demoralized the enemy that resistance at this point collapsed, permitting the 2 battalions to continue their advance.
Prussman, Ernest William is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial Saint-James, Département de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France Section, Plot A. Row 12. Grave 14.
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