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Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry,
3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy,
24 May 1944. Entered service at: St. Clairsville, Ohio. Birth: St. Clairsville,
Ohio. Citation: Near Cisterna di Littoria,
Italy, he charged 200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an
enemy machinegun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke
through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30
yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machinegun,
machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and
knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to his feet to continue
his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm
shattered, he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration
with his submachinegun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards
of the enemy strong point, where he opened fire at deadly close range,
killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining 10 to surrender. He reorganized
his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose
to lead the way toward another strong point 100 yards distant. Utterly
disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed
ahead nearly three-fourths of the space between strong points when he was
instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his example, his squad
went on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice, superb
fighting courage, and heroic devotion to the attack, Sgt. Antolak was directly
responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machinegun,
and clearing the path for his company to advance.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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