World War II Honoree

Anthony Peter Damato

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Shenandoah, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. CORPORAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS. ACCREDITED TO PENNSYLVANIA. CITATION FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY WHILE SERVING WITH AN ASSAULT COMPANY IN ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES ON ENGEBI ISLAND, ENIWETOK ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 19, 1944. HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO SUDDEN ATTACK BY SMALL, FANATICAL GROUPS OF JAPANESE STILL AT LARGE DESPITE THE EFFICIENT AND DETERMINED EFFORTS OF OUR FORCES TO CLEAR THE AREA, HE LAY WITH 2 COMRADES IN A LARGE FOXHOLE IN HIS COMPANY'S DEFENSE PERIMETER WHICH HAD BEEN DANGEROUSLY THINNED BY THE FORCED WITHDRAWAL OF NEARLY HALF OF THE AVAILABLE MEN. WHEN 1 OF THE ENEMY APPROACHED THE FOXHOLE UNDETECTED AND THREW IN A HAND GRENADE. DESPERATELY GROPED FOR IT IN THE DARKNESS. REALIZING THE IMMINENT PERIL TO ALL 3 AND FULLY AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACT, UNHESITATINGLY FLUNG HIMSELF ON THE GRENADE AND ALTHOUGH INSTANTLY KILLED AS HIS BODY ABSORBED THE EXPLOSION, SAVED THE LIVES OF HIS 2 COMPANIONS. SPLENDID INITIATIVE, FEARLESS CONDUCT AND VALIANT SACRIFICE REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE. GALLANTLY GAVE LIFE FOR COMRADES.