Anthony L. Krotiak

Infobox Military Person
name=Anthony L. Krotiak
born=birth date|1915|8|15
died=death date and age|1945|5|8|1915|8|15
placeofbirth=Chicago, Illinois
placeofdeath=Balete Pass, Luzon, the Philippines
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Private First Class
commands=
unit=148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division
battles=World War II
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Anthony L. Krotiak (August 15, 1915 – May 8, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Biography

Krotiak joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago, Illinois, and by May 8, 1945 was serving as a private first class in Company I, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division. On that day, in the Balete Pass, Luzon, the Philippines, he smothered the blast of a Japanese-thrown grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect those around him. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor the next year, on February 13, 1946.

Krotiak, aged 29 at his death, was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Medal of Honor citation

Private First Class Krotiak's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He was an acting squad leader, directing his men in consolidating a newly won position on Hill B when the enemy concentrated small arms fire and grenades upon him and 4 others, driving them to cover in an abandoned Japanese trench. A grenade thrown from above landed in the center of the group. Instantly pushing his comrades aside and jamming the grenade into the earth with his rifle butt, he threw himself over it, making a shield of his body to protect the other men. The grenade exploded under him, and he died a few minutes later. By his extraordinary heroism in deliberately giving his life to save those of his comrades, Pfc. Krotiak set an inspiring example of utter devotion and self-sacrifice which reflects the highest traditions of the military service.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

*findagrave|8114583 Retrieved on 2008-01-21

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (G-L)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16, 2007
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html
accessdate = 2008-01-21