World War II Honoree

Charles A. Baldari

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Mrs. Giovanna M. Peters

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED IN COMPANY C, 318TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 80TH INFANTRY DIVISION UNDER GENERAL PATTON. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY IN GERMANY. DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE ASSAULT UPON BIESDORF, GERMANY ON FEBRUARY 12, 1945, HE ALONE SUCCESSFULLY ATTACKED THREE ENEMY PILL BOXES WHICH WERE DELAYING THE ADVANCE OF HIS COMPANY. BY HIS BOLD ACTIONS, HE PERMITTED HIS COMPANY TO ADVANCE; CAPTURED FOURTEEN PRISONERS. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE COURAGEOUSLY CRAWLED 150 YARDS FORWARD OF HIS COMPANY FRONT LINE, UNDER DIRECT ENEMY FIRE, AND EVACUATED A WOUNDED COMRADE. HE WAS LARGELY INSTRUMENTAL IN DISRUPTING AN ENEMY COUNTERATTACK WHICH THREATENED TO ENCIRCLE HIS COMPANY COMMAND POST. THE UNFALTERING COURAGE, HEROISM AND DEVOTION TO DUTY HE DISPLAYED EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE.