World War II Honoree

Edward J. Moskala

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, COMPANY C, 383RD INFANTRY, 96TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE; KAKAZU RIDGE, OKINAWA, RYUKYU ISLANDS, APRIL 9, 1945. ENTERED SERVICE AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. GO 21, FEBRUARY 26, 1946. CITATION: 'WAS THE LEADING ELEMENT WHEN GRENADE EXPLOSIONS AND CONCENTRATED MACHINE GUN AND MORTAR FIRE HALTED THE UNIT'S ATTACK ON KAKAZU RIDGE, OKINAWA, RYUKYU ISLANDS. WITH UTTER DISREGARD FOR HIS PERSONAL SAFETY, HE CHARGED 40 YARDS THROUGH WITHERING, GRAZING FIRE AND WIPED OUT 2 MACHINE GUN NESTS WITH WELL AIMED GRENADES AND DEADLY ACCURATE FIRE FROM HIS AUTOMATIC RIFLE. WHEN STRONG COUNTERATTACKS AND FIERCE ENEMY RESISTANCE FROM OTHER POSITIONS FORCED HIS COMPANY TO WITHDRAW, HE VOLUNTARILY REMAINED BEHIND WITH 8 OTHERS TO COVER THE MANEUVER. FIGHTING FROM A CRITICALLY DANGEROUS POSITION FOR 3 HOURS, HE KILLED MORE THAN 25 JAPANESE BEFORE FOLLOWING HIS SURVIVING COMPANIONS THROUGH SCREENING SMOKE DOWN THE FACE OF THE RIDGE TO A GORGE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE GROUP HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND, WOUNDED. UNHESITATINGLY, PRIVATE MOSKALA CLIMBED THE BULLET SWEPT SLOPE TO ASSIST IN THE RESCUE AND RETURNING TO LOWER GROUND, VOLUNTEERED TO PROTECT OTHER WOUNDED WHILE THE BULK OF THE TROOPS QUICKLY TOOK UP MORE FAVORABLE POSITIONS. HE HAD SAVED ANOTHER CASUALTY AND KILLED 4 ENEMY INFILTRATORS WHEN HE WAS STRUCK AND MORTALLY WOUNDED HIMSELF WHILE AIDING STILL ANOTHER DISABLED SOLDIER. WITH GALLANT INITIATIVE, UNFALTERING COURAGE, AND HEROIC DETERMINATION TO DESTROY THE ENEMY, PRIVATE MOSKALA GAVE HIS LIFE IN HIS COMPLETE DEVOTION TO HIS COMPANY'S MISSION AND HIS COMRADES' WELL BEING. HIS INTREPID CONDUCT PROVIDED A LASTING INSPIRATION FOR THOSE WITH WHOM HE SERVED.'