Private First Class Salvador J. Lara was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions between May 27 and 28, 1944 in Aprilia, Italy during World War II. At the time he was serving with 2d Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Lara was about 24 years old.
The medal was presented on March 18, 2014, 69 years after the action — the White House to his brother by President Barack Obama.
Lara was born in 1920 in Riverside, Los Angeles County, California. Lara died on September 1, 1945 in France, at the age of about 25. He is buried at Lorrain American Cemetery in St. Avold, France.
Lara is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Private First Class Salvador J. Lara distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the Squad Leader of a rifle squad with 2d Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Aprilia, Italy on May 27 and 28, 1944. On the afternoon of the 27th, Private First Class Lara aggressively led his rifle squad in neutralizing multiple enemy strongpoints and in inflicting large numbers of casualties on the enemy. Having taken his initial objective, Private First Class Lara noticed that the unit to his right was meeting stiff resistance from a large, well-entrenched enemy force in a deep ditch. Private First Class Lara quickly gathered three men and attacked a wide section of the enemy position, killing four, forcing fifteen others to surrender and causing two enemy mortar crews to abandon their weapons. His fearless and efficient performance enabled both his own unit and the unit to his right to continue to their objective. The next morning, as his company resumed the attack, Private First Class Lara sustained a severe leg wound, but did not stop to receive first aid. His company suffered heavy casualties as a result of withering machinegun fire coming from an enemy strongpoint on the right flank. After requesting permission to destroy the enemy machineguns armed only with a Browning Automatic Rifle, Private First Class Lara crawled alone toward the nearest machinegun. Despite his painful wound and the extreme danger of the task, he rose and fearlessly charged the nest, killing the crew members. Another machinegun opened fire on him, but he quickly neutralized this weapon with accurate fire from his Browning, killing three more of the enemy. His aggressive attack forced two other machinegun crews to flee their weapons. After rejoining his company, Private First Class Lara continued his exemplary performance until he captured his objective. Private First Class Lara’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
The next morning, as his company resumed the attack, Private First Class Lara sustained a severe leg wound, but did not stop to receive first aid.
Despite his painful wound and the extreme danger of the task, he rose and fearlessly charged the nest, killing the crew members.
- Awarded posthumously — died September 1, 1945.
- Age at death: about 25
- Resting place: Lorrain American Cemetery
Timeline
- 1920Born in Riverside, Los Angeles County, California
- May 27 - 28, 1944Act of valor — Aprilia, ItalyAge about 24. 2d Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division
- September 1, 1945Died in FranceAge about 25.
- March 18, 2014Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House to his brother by President Barack Obama
- Resting placeLorrain American CemeterySt. Avold
