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Medal of Honor Recipient of the Day for February 5: Robert M. Viale.
"Robert M. Viale (April 21, 1916 – February 5, 1945) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Viale joined the Army from Ukiah, California in March 1941,[1] and by February 5, 1945 was serving as a second lieutenant in Company K, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division. On that day, during combat in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Viale smothered the blast of an accidentally dropped hand grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect the soldiers and civilians around him. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor eight months later, on October 25, 1945.
Viale, aged 28 at his death, was buried in Ocean View Cemetery, Eureka, California.
Medal of Honor Citation:
Second Lieutenant Viale's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy's detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from 3 enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With 2 men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men's protecting fire; the other 2 were silenced by 1 of his companions and a bazooka team which he had called up. He suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machinegun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In 1 room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative positions of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than 1 of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the 5 seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. 2d Lt. Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others."
"Robert M. Viale (April 21, 1916 – February 5, 1945) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Viale joined the Army from Ukiah, California in March 1941,[1] and by February 5, 1945 was serving as a second lieutenant in Company K, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division. On that day, during combat in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Viale smothered the blast of an accidentally dropped hand grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect the soldiers and civilians around him. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor eight months later, on October 25, 1945.
Viale, aged 28 at his death, was buried in Ocean View Cemetery, Eureka, California.
Medal of Honor Citation:
Second Lieutenant Viale's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy's detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from 3 enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With 2 men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men's protecting fire; the other 2 were silenced by 1 of his companions and a bazooka team which he had called up. He suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machinegun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In 1 room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative positions of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than 1 of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the 5 seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. 2d Lt. Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others."
Robert M. Viale - Wikipedia
Posted from en.m.wikipedia.org
Medal of Honor
WWII World War Two
Military History
American History
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
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In Their Own Words: MOH Recipient 2nd Lt. Robert M. Viale
On Feb. 5, 1945, 2nd Lt. Robert Viale of Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division was killed during the battle of Manila while protecting his Soldie...
Thank you, my friend SGT (Join to see) for honoring United States Army officer Second Lieutenant Robert M. Viale who was assigned in Company K, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division. During combat in Manila, Philippines on February 5, 1945 who unselfishly dropped on a grenade and absorbed the explosion and protected the soldier around him.
Rest in peace Robert M. Viale
In Their Own Words: MOH Recipient 2nd Lt. Robert M. Viale
"On Feb. 5, 1945, Infantry Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. Robert Viale assigned to Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division was killed during the battle of Manila while protecting his Soldiers from a grenade blast. Charles Henne and Harold Vogel, both World War II veterans of the 148th Infantry Regiment, describe the events that day. Video produced by Sgt. 1st Class Josh Mann."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2xN8SW8CaI
Background from cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3038/viale-robert-m.php
"VIALE, ROBERT M.
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company K
Division: 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
Born: Bayside, Calif.
Departed: Yes
Entered Service At: Ukiah, Calif.
G.O. Number: 92
Date of Issue: 10/25/1945
Accredited To:
Place / Date: Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 5 February 1945
Citation
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy's detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from 3 enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With 2 men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men's protecting fire; the other 2 were silenced by 1 of his companions and a bazooka team which he had called up. He suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machinegun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In 1 room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative positions of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than 1 of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the 5 seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. 2d Lt. Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others."
FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see) SSG David Andrews
Rest in peace Robert M. Viale
In Their Own Words: MOH Recipient 2nd Lt. Robert M. Viale
"On Feb. 5, 1945, Infantry Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. Robert Viale assigned to Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division was killed during the battle of Manila while protecting his Soldiers from a grenade blast. Charles Henne and Harold Vogel, both World War II veterans of the 148th Infantry Regiment, describe the events that day. Video produced by Sgt. 1st Class Josh Mann."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2xN8SW8CaI
Background from cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3038/viale-robert-m.php
"VIALE, ROBERT M.
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company K
Division: 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
Born: Bayside, Calif.
Departed: Yes
Entered Service At: Ukiah, Calif.
G.O. Number: 92
Date of Issue: 10/25/1945
Accredited To:
Place / Date: Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 5 February 1945
Citation
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy's detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from 3 enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With 2 men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men's protecting fire; the other 2 were silenced by 1 of his companions and a bazooka team which he had called up. He suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machinegun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In 1 room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative positions of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than 1 of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the 5 seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. 2d Lt. Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others."
FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see) SSG David Andrews
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