World War II Honoree

Joseph J. Cingel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clarence, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren

ANTI-TANK COMPANY, 176TH INFANTRY, U.S. ARMY; HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY ON MARCH 9, 1945 NEAR BRUCHHAUSEN, GERMANY. WHILE IN A DEFENSIVE POSITION IN THEIR BATTALION'S FLANK, SQUAD WAS SUBJECTED TO A FIERCE COUNTERATTACK BY A NUMERICALLY SUPERIOR ENEMY FORCE. REALIZING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAD NO COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR COMPANY, PRIVATE 1ST CLASS AND 3 OTHER MEN UNHESITATINGLY EXPOSED THEMSELVES TO THE CONCENTRATED ENEMY FIRE AND SKILLFULLY MANEUVERED POSITION IN ORDER TO DEFEND THE UNIT'S FLANK. USING HAND GRENADES AND DIRECTING A HEAVY VOLUME OF SMALL-ARMS FIRE TO PREVENT THEIR POSITION FROM BEING OVERRUN AND TO STOP THE ENEMY, THE BRAVE STAND AND DELAYING ACTION OF MEN SUCCEEDED IN PREVENTING THE ENEMY FROM CAPTURING OR KILLING THE GROUP AND SERIOUSLY ENDANGERING THE ENTIRE BATTALION POSITION. BY HIS COOLNESS UNDER FIRE AND INTREPID GALLANTRY, HE WAS A DISTINCT CREDIT TO HIMSELF AND THE ARMED FORCES OF THE U.S. OF AMERICA.