World War II Honoree

Carmen J. Gaudio, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Ms. Dolores Minkley

Relationship

Daughter

INFANTRYMAN IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER, 1944-1946. AWARDED THE SILVER STAR, TWO BRONZE STARS AND A PURPLE HEART, WHICH HE DECLINED IN ORDER TO AVOID FRIGHTENING HIS FAMILY. REPEATEDLY VOLUNTEERED FOR DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENTS. ONCE BROKE INTO THE BASEMENT OF GERMAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS BUILDING AND SECURED SUPPLIES WHILE GERMAN LEADERS WERE MEETING IN OTHER ROOMS OF THE BUILDING. HIS COUNSEL WAS OFTEN SOUGHT AND FOLLOWED BY HIS SERGEANT, ROBERT 'NELLIE' NELSON. ON ONE SUCH OCCASION, HE VOLUNTEERED AND ASKED FOR COVER FIRE WHILE HE ADVANCED ALONE TO THE FARMHOUSE OCCUPIED BY A GERMAN MACHINE GUN NEST WHICH HAD HAD HIS UNIT PINNED DOWN. HE BROKE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR AND TOOK THE WHOLE GERMAN UNIT CAPTIVE, ALLOWING THE U.S. FORCES TO MOVE FORWARD.