Medal of Honor: William J. Grabiarz – U.S. Army – World War II

Name: William J. Grabiarz
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Troop E, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Place: Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands
Entered Service At: Buffalo, New York
Born: Buffalo, New York
G.O. No.: 115, 8 December 1945

Summary of Action

During the advance through Manila, Pfc. William J. Grabiarz was serving as a scout as his unit moved with tanks along a city street. Without warning, intense enemy machinegun and rifle fire erupted from concealed positions in the Customs building.

The sudden burst of fire struck down the troop commander and forced the rest of the unit to take cover. The officer lay helpless in the open road, completely exposed to pointblank fire.

Without hesitation, Grabiarz ran from behind a tank into the deadly hail of bullets to rescue him. He was immediately wounded in the shoulder, his arm rendered useless. Ignoring both his injury and the shouts of his comrades to take cover, he continued his effort to drag the officer to safety.

When he realized he could not move the wounded commander out of range, Grabiarz made a final decision. Rejecting the chance to save himself, he deliberately placed his own body over his officer, forming a human shield, and called for a tank to move between them and the enemy fire.

Before the tank could interpose itself, the enemy riddled him with bullets.

When the position was secured, it was found that Grabiarz had successfully shielded his commander, who survived.

His selfless act of courage and sacrifice provided a lasting inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

Medal of Honor Citation

GRABIARZ, WILLIAM J.

He was a scout when the unit advanced with tanks along a street in Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Without warning, enemy machinegun and rifle fire from concealed positions in the Customs building swept the street, striking down the troop commander and driving his men to cover. As the officer lay in the open road, unable to move and completely exposed to the pointblank enemy fire, Pfc. Grabiarz voluntarily ran from behind a tank to carry him to safety, but was himself wounded in the shoulder. Ignoring both the pain in his injured useless arm and his comrades’ shouts to seek the cover which was only a few yards distant, the valiant rescuer continued his efforts to drag his commander out of range. Finding this impossible, he rejected the opportunity to save himself and deliberately covered the officer with his own body to form a human shield, calling as he did so for a tank to maneuver into position between him and the hostile emplacement. The enemy riddled him with concentrated fire before the tank could interpose itself. Our troops found that he had been successful in preventing bullets from striking his leader, who survived. Through his magnificent sacrifice in gallantly giving his life to save that of his commander, Pfc. Grabiarz provided an outstanding and lasting inspiration to his fellow soldiers.