Sylvester Antolak

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Sylvester Antolak
1916- May 24, 1944
Place of birth	St. Clairsville, Ohio
Place of death	Cisterna di Littoria, Italy
Allegiance	United States Army
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Company B.,U.S. 15th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 3rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor, Purple Heart
Other work	posthumous award

Sylvester Antolak (1916 St. Clairsville, Ohio&died 24 May 1944 Cisterna di Littoria, Italy) was a United States Army Sergeant posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions on 24 May 1944. Sergeant Antolak was a Polish-American.

[edit] Citation

   *ANTOLAK, SYLVESTER

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24 May 1944. Entered service at: St. Clairsville, Ohio. Birth: St. Clairsville, Ohio. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945.

Citation:

Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he charged 200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machinegun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machinegun, machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachinegun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards of the enemy strong point, where he opened fire at deadly close range, killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining 10 to surrender. He reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose to lead the way toward another strong point 100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead nearly three-fourths of the space between strong points when he was instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his example, his squad went on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice, superb fighting courage, and heroic devotion to the attack, Sgt. Antolak was directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machinegun, and clearing the path for his company to advance.