Joseph Vittori
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| Joseph Vittori | |
|---|---|
| August 1, 1929 - September 16, 1951 | |
  Joseph Vittori, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Beverly, Massachusetts |
| Place of death | Killed in action near Songnae-dong, Korea |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1946-1949, 1950-1951 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart (2) |
Corporal Joseph Vittori (1929-1951) was a 22-year old United States Marine who was killed in action during the Korean War. For his heroic actions during the assault on Hill 749 near Songnea-dong, Korea on the night of September 15–16, 1951, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was fatally wounded while fighting off an enemy break-through at a gap in his battalion’s lines. He was the 19th Marine to earn the Nation’s highest decoration for heroism in Korea.
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[edit] Medal of Honor actions
The action occurred on Hill 749, where Cpl Vittori’s company was assaulting well-entrenched Chinese Communist positions. A vicious enemy counter-attack drove back a forward platoon with heavy casualties, and Cpl Vittori, with two other volunteers from his reserve platoon, dashed into hand-to-hand combat in the midst of the swarming enemy to give the Marine company time to consolidate its positions.
Later, when a call went up for an automatic rifleman to defend an isolated heavy machine gun position on the flank of his company’s sector, Cpl Vittori again volunteered.
With heavy casualties leaving a 100-yard gap in the Marine lines at the position, he fought a single-handed battle to prevent an enemy break-through. Leaping from one side of the position to the other, he kept up a withering fire of over 1,000 rounds in three hours. He made repeated trips through heavy shellfire to replenish his ammunition, manned a machine gun after its gunner fell, and despite enemy penetration to within feet of his position, kept the enemy out of the breech in his company’s lines until he was mortally wounded. The next morning the Marines counted almost 200 enemy dead in the area.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Cpl Vittori was posthumously awarded his second Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in the action. He was previously wounded on 9 June 1951, near Yang-gu, Korea, and had been a property sergeant after leaving the field hospital. After a week at the job, he asked to rejoin his buddies in his old infantry platoon, and was allowed to do so.
[edit] Biography
Joseph Vittori was born on 1 August 1929 in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he attended high schools and worked on his father’s farm until 4 October 1946, when he began a three-year enlistment in the United States Marine Corps.
He completed recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina in December 1946. He served briefly at the Norfolk, Virginia, and Brooklyn, New York, Navy Yards and was a member of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Portsmouth from April to June 1947. He was then stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until May 1948, when he joined the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune North Carolina. From January to May 1949, he served with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean area. He again served at Camp Lejeune, until 3 October 1949, when he was discharged.
Returning to Beverly, Massachusetts, he worked for a year as a plasterer and bricklayer until enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve on 26 September 1950 for an indefinite tour of active duty. He was trained at Camp Lejeune until January 1951, when he arrived in Korea to join the company with which he was serving when killed. He had participated in the South and Central Korean campaign, receiving his promotion to corporal on 15 June 1951.
Corporal Vittori was originally buried at the United Nations Military Cemetery, Tanggok, Korea. His body was returned to the United States in January 1952 for reburial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beverly, Massachusetts.
[edit] Decorations
The Medal of Honor was presented to his parents on 7 September 1952.
In addition to the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart Medal with Gold Star in lieu of a second award, his medals and decorations included the World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe Clasp; Korean Service Medal with one bronze star; and United Nations Service Medal.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
CORPORAL JOSEPH VITTORI
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Automatic Rifleman in Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in actions against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 15 and 16 September 1951. With a forward platoon suffering heavy casualties and forced to withdraw under a vicious enemy counterattack as his company assaulted strong hostile forces entrenched on Hill 749, Corporal Vittori boldly rushed through the withdrawing troops with two other volunteers from his reserve platoon and plunged directly into the midst of the enemy. Overwhelming them in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle, he enabled his company to consolidate its positions to meet further imminent on slaughts. Quick to respond to an urgent call for a rifleman to defend a heavy machine gun positioned on the extreme point of the northern flank and virtually isolated from the remainder of the unit when the enemy again struck in force during the night, he assumed position under the devastating barrage and, fighting a singlehanded battle, leaped from one flank to the other, covering each foxhole in turn as casualties continued to mount, manning a machine gun when the gunner was struck down and making repeated trips through the heaviest shellfire to replenish ammunition. With the situation becoming extremely critical, reinforcing units to the rear pinned down under the blistering attack and foxholes left practically void by dead and wounded for a distance of 100 yards, Corporal Vittori continued his valiant stand, refusing to give ground as the enemy penetrated to within feet of his position, simulating strength in the line and denying the foe physical occupation of the ground. Mortally wounded by enemy machine-gun and rifle bullets while persisting in his magnificent defense of the sector where approximately 200 enemy dead were found the following morning, Corporal Vittori, by his fortitude, stouthearted courage and great personal valor, had kept the point position intact despite the tremendous odds and undoubtedly prevented the entire battalion position from collapsing. His extraordinary heroism throughout the furious night-long battle reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- Corporal Joseph Vittori, USMCR, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps.
- Cpl Joseph Vittori, Medal of Honor, 1951, 2/1/1, Korea, Medal of Honor citation. (URL accessed June 10, 2006)
[edit] Further reading
- Johnston, Maj John H., USMC. A Brief History of the 1st Marines, Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps, 1962.
