World War II Honoree

Martin J. Erdossy, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

McAdoo, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ms. Olga Erdossy Pugh

Relationship

Sister

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER, GUAM, LEYTE GULF, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AWARDED BRONZE STAR AND PURPLE HEART FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY ON DECEMBER 8, 1944 NEAR CAMP DOWNES, LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AS COMPANY MOVED ACROSS AN OPEN FIELD IT WAS MOMENTARILY STOPPED BY A HEAVY CONCENTRATION OF ENEMY AUTOMATIC FIRE. AS HEAVY WEAPONS PLATOON SERGEANT, MADE HIS WAY TO THE MORTAR SECTION AND WAS PUT IT INTO ACTION. HE BOLDLY EXPOSED HIMSELF TO ACT AS AN OBSERVER AND DIRECT THE FIRE OF THE MORTARS ON TO THEIR TARGETS. BY HIS ACCURATE FIRE ORDERS, THE SECTION ACCOUNTED FOR TWO OF THE ENEMY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND KILLED OR SCATTERED THEIR CREWS. HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE ACTION BUT REFUSED AID UNTIL THE MEN HAD COMPLETED THEIR MISSION. HIS CALM ACTION IN THE FACE OF HEAVY ENEMY FIRE WAS A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE MEN OF HIS PLATOON.