Private First Class Michael "Mike" Colalillo, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 7, 1945 near Untergriesheim, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with 2d Squad, 2d Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division. Colalillo was 19 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 18, 1945 — the White House, presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman. He later rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Colalillo was born on December 1, 1925 in Hibbing, St. Louis County, Minnesota. His Medal of Honor is credited to Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Colalillo died on December 30, 2011 in Duluth, Minnesota, at the age of 86. He is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth, Minnesota.
Colalillo is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 45 credited to Minnesota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He was pinned down with other members of his company during an attack against strong enemy positions in the vicinity of Untergriesheim, Germany. Heavy artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire made any move hazardous, when he stood up, shouted to the company to follow, and ran forward in the wake of a supporting tank, firing his machine pistol. Inspired by his example, his comrades advanced in the face of savage enemy fire. When his weapon was struck by shrapnel and rendered useless, he climbed the deck of the friendly tank, manned an exposed machine gun on the turret of the vehicle, and, while bullets rattled about him, fired at an enemy emplacement with such devastating accuracy that he killed or wounded at least 10 hostile soldiers and destroyed their machine gun. Maintaining his extremely dangerous post as the tank forged ahead, he blasted three more positions, destroyed another machine-gun emplacement, and silenced all resistance in his area, killing at least three and wounding an undetermined number of riflemen as they fled. His machine gun eventually jammed; so he secured a submachine gun from the tank crew to continue his attack on foot. When our armored forces exhausted their ammunition and the order to withdraw was given, he remained behind to help a seriously wounded comrade over several hundred yards of open terrain rocked by an intense enemy artillery and mortar barrage. By his intrepidity and inspiring courage Pfc. Colalillo gave tremendous impetus to his company's attack, killed or wounded 25 of the enemy in bitter fighting, and assisted a wounded soldier in reaching the American lines at great risk to his own life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
When his weapon was struck by shrapnel and rendered useless, he climbed the deck of the friendly tank, manned an exposed machine gun on the turret of the vehicle, and, while bullets rattled about him, fired at an enemy emplacement with such devastating accuracy that he killed or wounded at least 10 hostile soldiers and destroyed their machine gun.
- Age at death: 86
- Resting place: Forest Hill Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Denfeld High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Minnesota →
Timeline
- December 1, 1925Born in Hibbing, St. Louis County, Minnesota
- April 7, 1945Act of valor — near Untergriesheim, GermanyAge 19. 2d Squad, 2d Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division
- December 18, 1945Medal of Honor presentedThe White House, presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman
- December 30, 2011Died in Duluth, MinnesotaAge 86.
- Resting placeForest Hill CemeteryDuluth, Minnesota
Biography
Michael Colalillo (December 2, 1925 – December 30, 2011) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions during World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “Mike Colalillo”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
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