Medal of Honor: Sylvester Antolak – World War II – May 24, 1944

Name: Sylvester Antolak
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company B, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 24, 1944
Location: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy

Summary of Action

On 24 May 1944, Sergeant Sylvester Antolak displayed extraordinary heroism during the fierce fighting that helped break the German defenses surrounding the Anzio beachhead.

As American forces advanced across flat, exposed terrain near Cisterna di Littoria, enemy machine guns pinned down the assaulting troops with devastating fire.

Recognizing that the attack could not continue while the German strongpoint remained active, Antolak charged forward alone across nearly two hundred yards of open ground without cover.

Running well ahead of his squad, he advanced directly into a murderous concentration of machine-gun, rifle, and machine-pistol fire.

During the assault, Antolak was struck by enemy bullets three separate times and knocked to the ground repeatedly.

Each time, despite severe wounds, he forced himself back to his feet and continued moving toward the enemy position.

One wound deeply gashed his shoulder while another shattered his right arm.

Unable to properly carry his weapon, Antolak wedged his submachine gun beneath his uninjured arm and kept charging directly into the fire.

Closing to within fifteen yards of the enemy emplacement, he opened fire at point-blank range.

He killed two German soldiers and forced the remaining ten defenders to surrender.

Even after suffering catastrophic wounds, Antolak refused medical treatment.

Instead, he reorganized his squad and immediately began leading another assault against a second enemy strongpoint nearly one hundred yards away.

Again ignoring the concentrated enemy fire, he stormed forward until he was struck and killed before reaching the next position.

Inspired by his fearless example, his squad continued the attack and overwhelmed the remaining German defenses.

Through his sacrifice and relentless courage, Antolak personally eliminated enemy resistance, captured a machine gun, and cleared the path for the American advance during one of the most critical battles of the Italian Campaign.

Medal of Honor Citation

ANTOLAK, SYLVESTER

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.