Michael Valente

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Michael Valente
February 5, 1895-January 10, 1975
Place of birth	Cassino, Italy
Allegiance	U.S. Army
Rank	Private
Unit	107th Infantry, 27th Division
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor

Michael Valente (5 February 1895 (Cassino, Italy) - 10 January 1976) was a soldier in the U.S. Army who served in World War I. He received the United States' highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic actions in France on 29 September 1918.

Valente died at age 80 and is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.^[1]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy during the operations against the Hindenburg line, east of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Finding the advance of his organization held up by a withering enemy machinegun fire, Pvt. Valente volunteered to go forward. With utter disregard of his own personal danger, accompanied by another soldier, Pvt. Valente rushed forward through an intense machinegun fire directly upon the enemy nest, killing 2 and capturing 5 of the enemy and silencing the gun. Discovering another machinegun nest close by which was pouring a deadly fire on the American forces, preventing their advance, Pvt. Valente and his companion charged upon this strong point, killing the gunner and putting this machine gun out of action. Without hesitation they jumped into the enemy's trench, killed 2 and captured 16 German soldiers. Pvt. Valente was later wounded and sent to the rear.