Serving as an airman in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Second Lieutenant Joseph Raymond Sarnoski was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on June 16, 1943 over Buka area, Solomon Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force. Sarnoski was 28 years old.
Sarnoski was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Sarnoski was born on January 30, 1915 in Simpson, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. His medal is held by Public Library, Carbondale, PA.
Sarnoski is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 16 June 1943, 2d Lt. Sarnoski volunteered as bombardier of a crew on an important photographic mapping mission covering the heavily defended Buka area, Solomon Islands. When the mission was nearly completed, about 20 enemy fighters intercepted. At the nose guns, 2d Lt. Sarnoski fought off the first attackers, making it possible for the pilot to finish the plotted course. When a coordinated frontal attack by the enemy extensively damaged his bomber and seriously injured five of the crew, 2d Lt. Sarnoski though wounded, continued firing and shot down two enemy planes. A 20-millimeter shell which burst in the nose of the bomber knocked him into the catwalk under the cockpit. With indomitable fighting spirit, he crawled back to his post and kept on firing until he collapsed on his guns. Second Lt. Sarnoski, by resolute defense of his aircraft at the price of his life, made possible the completion of a vitally important mission.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
When a coordinated frontal attack by the enemy extensively damaged his bomber and seriously injured five of the crew, 2d Lt. Sarnoski though wounded, continued firing and shot down two enemy planes.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (June 16, 1943).
- Age at death: 28
- Resting place: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Joseph Raymond Sarnoski received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
- Born: Simpson — map
- Died: Bougainville Island — map
- Buried: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- January 30, 1915Born in Simpson, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
- June 16, 1943Act of valor — over Buka area, Solomon IslandsAge 28. 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force Killed in action.
- Resting placeNational Memorial Cemetery of the PacificHonolulu, Hawaii
Biography
Joseph Raymond Sarnoski (January 31, 1915 – June 16, 1943) was an officer of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and received the Medal of Honor posthumously. Sarnoski was part of the flight crew of Capt. Jay Zeamer Jr. on Old 666 on the day where both he and Zeamer earned the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “Joseph Sarnoski”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
