Private Michael Valente was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1918 in Hindenburg Line, east of Ronssoy, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division. Valente was 23 years old.
10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 27, 1929, 10 years after the action.
Valente was born on February 5, 1895 in Cassino, Italy — one of 5 recipients born in Italy. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York. Valente died on January 10, 1976 in Long Beach, New York, at the age of 80. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Valente is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy during the operations against the Hindenburg line, east of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Finding the advance of his organization held up by a withering enemy machine-gun fire, Pvt. Valente volunteered to go forward. With utter disregard of his own personal danger, accompanied by another soldier, Pvt. Valente rushed forward through an intense machine-gun fire directly upon the enemy nest, killing two and capturing five of the enemy and silencing the gun. Discovering another machine-gun nest close by which was pouring a deadly fire on the American forces, preventing their advance, Pvt. Valente and his companion charged upon this strong point, killing the gunner and putting this machine gun out of action. Without hesitation they jumped into the enemy's trench, killed two and captured 16 German soldiers. Pvt. Valente was later wounded and sent to the rear.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Pvt. Valente was later wounded and sent to the rear.
- Age at death: 80
- Resting place: Long Island National Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- February 5, 1895Born in Cassino, Italy
- September 29, 1918Act of valor — Hindenburg Line, east of Ronssoy, FranceAge 23. Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division
- September 27, 1929Medal of Honor presented
- January 10, 1976Died in Long Beach, New YorkAge 80.
- Resting placeLong Island National CemeteryFarmingdale, New York
Biography
Michael Valente (February 5, 1895 – January 10, 1976) was an Italian-born American soldier who served the United States Army in World War I. He received the United States military's highest decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions in France on September 29, 1918.
From the Wikipedia article “Michael Valente”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Further reading
- 5 Brave Italian-American Medal of Honor Recipientscmohs.org · 2021
