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Witek, Frank Peter

Date of birth:
December 1st, 1921 (Derby/Connetticut, United States)
Date of death:
August 3rd, 1944 (Guam, the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean)
Buried on:
Rock Island National Cemetery
Plot: E. Grave: 72.
Nationality:
American

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private First Class (Marine)
Unit:
1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division "Fighting Third", U.S. Marine Corps
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, during the Battle of Finegayen at Guam, Marianas, on 3 August 1944. When his rifle platoon was halted by heavy surprise fire from well-camouflaged enemy positions, Pfc. Witek daringly remained standing to fire a full magazine from his automatic at point-blank range into a depression housing Japanese troops, killing 8 of the enemy and enabling the greater part of his platoon to take cover. During his platoon's withdrawal for consolidation of lines, he remained to safeguard a severely wounded comrade, courageously returning the enemy's fire until the arrival of stretcher bearers, and then covering the evacuation by sustained fire as he moved backward toward his own lines. With his platoon again pinned down by a hostile machinegun, Pfc. Witek, on his own initiative, moved forward boldly to the reinforcing tanks and infantry, alternately throwing handgrenades and firing as he advanced to within 5 to 10 yards of the enemy position, and destroying the hostile machinegun emplacement and an additional 8 Japanese before he himself was struck down by an enemy rifleman. His valiant and inspiring action effectively reduced the enemy's firepower, thereby enabling his platoon to attain its objective, and reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Witek and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Awarded posthumously.
Medal of Honor - Navy/Marine Corps (MoH)

Sources

  • Photo 1: U.S. Marine Corps
  • - Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes – 433 men of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor 1941-1945, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996
    - Aurthur, R.A. & Cohlmia, K., The Third Marine Division, The Battery Press, Nashville, USA, 1989
    - Clark, G.B., The Six Marine Divisions in the Pacific – Every Campaign of World War II, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, 2006
    - U.S. Marine Corps History Division

Photo