Medal of Honor: Joseph J. Cicchetti – U.S. Army – World War II

Name: Joseph J. Cicchetti
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division
Place: South Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands
Entered Service At: Waynesburg, Ohio
Born: Waynesburg, Ohio

Summary of Action

During the assault on South Manila, American forces encountered a fiercely defended complex centered on the partially destroyed Manila Gas Works. Japanese troops had transformed the ruins and surrounding buildings into a network of mutually supporting strongpoints, pouring machine-gun, mortar, and heavy artillery fire into the advancing units. Casualties mounted rapidly, and evacuation of the wounded became increasingly difficult under the relentless fire.

When medical aid men called for volunteer litter bearers, Pfc. Joseph J. Cicchetti immediately stepped forward. Organizing a litter team, he led it for more than four hours through a 400-yard corridor that lay directly under intense and continuous enemy fire. Time after time, he moved across this deadly route to recover wounded comrades.

On one return trip, enemy machine-gun fire blocked the evacuation route. Without hesitation, Pfc. Cicchetti deliberately exposed himself to draw the fire, engaging and neutralizing the enemy with his rifle while ordering his litter team to rush the wounded past to safety.

Still continuing his mission, he observed a group of wounded soldiers stranded some distance away. As enemy fire intensified, he ran toward them. Nearing the casualties, he was struck in the head by a shell fragment, suffering a grievous wound. Ignoring his injury, he reached the wounded men, lifted one onto his shoulders, and carried him fifty yards to safety before collapsing from his wound. He died shortly thereafter.

By his courage, leadership, and complete disregard for his own life, Pfc. Cicchetti saved many wounded soldiers and set a lasting example of selfless devotion to duty.

Medal of Honor Citation

CICCHETTI, JOSEPH J.

He was with troops assaulting the first important line of enemy defenses. The Japanese had converted the partially destroyed Manila Gas Works and adjacent buildings into a formidable system of mutually supporting strongpoints from which they were concentrating machinegun, mortar, and heavy artillery fire on the American forces. Casualties rapidly mounted, and the medical aid men, finding it increasingly difficult to evacuate the wounded, called for volunteer litter bearers. Pfc. Cicchetti immediately responded, organized a litter team and skillfully led it for more than 4 hours in rescuing 14 wounded men, constantly passing back and forth over a 400-yard route which was the impact area for a tremendous volume of the most intense enemy fire. On 1 return trip the path was blocked by machinegun fire, but Pfc. Cicchetti deliberately exposed himself to draw the automatic fire which he neutralized with his own rifle while ordering the rest of the team to rush past to safety with the wounded. While gallantly continuing his work, he noticed a group of wounded and helpless soldiers some distance away and ran to their rescue although the enemy fire had increased to new fury. As he approached the casualties, he was struck in the head by a shell fragment, but with complete disregard for his gaping wound he continued to his comrades, lifted 1 and carried him on his shoulders 50 yards to safety. He then collapsed and died. By his skilled leadership, indomitable will, and dauntless courage, Pfc. Cicchetti saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own.