World War II Honoree

Peter Kenneth Rafalski

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pittsfield, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Daughter

SERVED DURING WWII AS TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE IN THE INFANTRY. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS INCLUDED ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, SICILY, TUNISIA, RHINELAND. HE WAS AWARDED A BRONZE STAR MEDAL THROUGH HEADQUARTERS 1ST U.S. INFANTRY DIVISION ON 2 APRIL 1945, FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY IN THE VICINITY OF TROINA, SICILY, 5 AUGUST 1943. DESPITE HEAVY ARTILLERY, MORTAR, AND TANK FIRE, HE REPEATEDLY DROVE A VEHICLE OVER EXPOSED ROADS AND TRANSPORTED AMMUNITION AND SUPPLIES TO BATTALION ELEMENTS ASSAULTING AN ENEMY STRONGPOINT. HE WAS AWARDED A PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION ON 6 JUNE 44 IN FRANCE, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE ON 29 JULY 1944 AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE ON 24 MARCH 1944, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL AND THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM COMPANY H, 16TH INFANTRY AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY ON 23 JUNE 1945.