MOH

Medal of Honor: Anthony L. Krotiak - World War II - May 8, 1945

Five soldiers were trapped together inside an abandoned trench when a grenade landed among them. In the space of a heartbeat, one man chose to die so the others could live.

May 8, 2026

Name: Anthony L. Krotiak
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company I, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 8, 1945
Location: Balete Pass, Luzon, Philippine Islands

Summary of Action

On 8 May 1945, during the bitter fighting for Balete Pass on Luzon, Private First Class Anthony L. Krotiak distinguished himself while serving as acting squad leader on Hill B.

His unit had just secured a newly won position when Japanese forces launched a fierce counterattack.

Enemy small-arms fire and grenades rained down on Krotiak and four other soldiers, forcing them to take cover inside an abandoned Japanese trench.

The confined position offered little protection.

Then a grenade landed directly in the center of the group.

There was no time to escape.

No time to throw it back.

Krotiak reacted instantly.

Shoving his comrades away from the grenade, he jammed the explosive into the earth with the butt of his rifle.

Then he threw himself over it.

Using his own body as a shield, he absorbed the full force of the explosion.

He died minutes later.

But the men beside him survived.

In one deliberate act of total self-sacrifice, Krotiak gave his life to save his fellow soldiers, embodying the highest traditions of courage and devotion to others in the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

KROTIAK, ANTHONY L.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company I, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Balete Pass, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 8 May 1945.

Entered service at: Chicago, Ill.

Born: 15 August 1915, Chicago, Ill.

G.O. No.: 18, 13 February 1946.

Citation:

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.