MAGRATH, JOHN D. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 85th
Infantry, 10th Mountain Division. Place and date: Near Castel d'Aiano,
Italy, 14 April 1945. Entered service at: East Norwalk, Conn. Birth: East
Norwalk, Conn. G.O. No.: 71, 17 July 1946. Citation: He displayed conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when his company
was pinned down by heavy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, near Castel
d'Aiano, Italy. Volunteering to act as a scout, armed with only a rifle,
he charged headlong into withering fire, killing 2 Germans and wounding
3 in order to capture a machinegun. Carrying this enemy weapon across an
open field through heavy fire, he neutralized 2 more machinegun nests;
he then circled behind 4 other Germans, killing them with a burst as they
were firing on his company. Spotting another dangerous enemy position to
this right, he knelt with the machinegun in his arms and exchanged fire
with the Germans until he had killed 2 and wounded 3. The enemy now poured
increased mortar and artillery fire on the company's newly won position.
Pfc. Magrath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the shelling in order
to collect a report of casualties. Heroically carrying out this task, he
made the supreme sacrifice--a climax to the valor and courage that are
in keeping with highest traditions of the military service.
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