WITEK, FRANK PETER - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Birth: December 1921, Derby, Conn. Accredited to: Illinois. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty while serving with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines,
3d Marine Division, during the Battle of Finegayen at Guam, Marianas, on
3 August 1944. When his rifle platoon was halted by heavy surprise fire
from well-camouflaged enemy positions, Pfc. Witek daringly remained standing
to fire a full magazine from his automatic at point-blank range into a
depression housing Japanese troops, killing 8 of the enemy and enabling
the greater part of his platoon to take cover. During his platoon's withdrawal
for consolidation of lines, he remained to safeguard a severely wounded
comrade, courageously returning the enemy's fire until the arrival of stretcher
bearers, and then covering the evacuation by sustained fire as he moved
backward toward his own lines. With his platoon again pinned down by a
hostile machinegun, Pfc. Witek, on his own initiative, moved forward boldly
to the reinforcing tanks and infantry, alternately throwing handgrenades
and firing as he advanced to within 5 to 10 yards of the enemy position,
and destroying the hostile machinegun emplacement and an additional 8 Japanese
before he himself was struck down by an enemy rifleman. His valiant and
inspiring action effectively reduced the enemy's firepower, thereby enabling
his platoon to attain its objective, and reflects the highest credit upon
Pfc. Witek and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his
country.
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