Sgt. Sylvester Antolak

Sylvester Antolak, a resident of Richland Township and a sergeant in Company B, 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, fought near Cisterna Di Littoria, Italy, on May 24, 1944, during the second day of the offensive that broke through the German Cordon of Steel around the Anzio Beachhead. He charged 200 yards across flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machine gun nest and, fully 30 yards ahead of his squad, pressed forward through intense machine gun, machine-pistol, and rifle fire. Shot down three times, he rose each time and continued his advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he kept moving forward with his submachine gun under his uninjured arm until he came within 15 yards of the strong point, where he killed 2 Germans and forced the remaining 10 to surrender. He then reorganized his men and, refusing medical attention, led them toward another strong point 100 yards away before being killed by enemy fire after covering nearly three-fourths of the distance. Inspired by his example, his squad overwhelmed the enemy troops. His actions were directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machine gun, and clearing the way for his company to advance.

St. Clairsville, Ohio · United States