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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private First Class · U.S. Army

Anton L. Krotiak

Private First Class Anton L. Krotiak, Army, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on May 8, 1945 at Balete Pass, Luzon, Philippine Islands during World War II.

World War II May 8, 1945Posthumous

Private First Class Anton L. Krotiak was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on May 8, 1945 at Balete Pass, Luzon, Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company I, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Krotiak was 29 years old.

Krotiak was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on February 21, 1946.

Krotiak was born on August 15, 1915 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.

Krotiak is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor 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 four 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 and 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and death in action

  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (May 8, 1945).
  • Age at death: 29
  • Resting place: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War II.

Places

  • Born: Chicago — map
  • Died: Dalton Pass — map
  • Buried: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. August 15, 1915
    Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  2. May 8, 1945
    Act of valor — Balete Pass, Luzon, Philippine Islands
    Age 29. Company I, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Killed in action.
  3. February 21, 1946
    Medal of Honor presented posthumously
  4. Resting place
    Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
    Worth, Illinois

Biography

Anthony L. Krotiak (August 15, 1915 – May 8, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

From the Wikipedia article “Anthony L. Krotiak”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More World War II recipients from Illinois

Edward Stanley Michael First Lieutenant · Air Force World War II · 1944 Elmer Charles Bigelow Watertender First Class · Navy World War II · 1945 ✦ EM Edward J. Moskala Private First Class · Army World War II · 1945 ✦ CO Carlos Carnes Ogden Sr. First Lieutenant · Army World War II · 1944 VB Vito R. Bertoldo Master Sergeant · Army World War II · 1945 Walter Edward Truemper Second Lieutenant · Air Force World War II · 1944 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.