b. 06/11/1921 Chicago, Illinois. d. 09/04/1945 Kakazu Ridge, Okinawa, Japan.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 09/04/1945 Kakazu Ridge, Okinawa, Japan.
Edward J Moskala MOH
Moskala joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago, Illinois, and by April 9, 1945, was serving as a private first class in Company C, 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division. On that day, at Kakazu Ridge on Okinawa Island, he destroyed two enemy machine gun positions before voluntarily staying behind to cover his unit’s withdrawal. He later helped rescue wounded men who had been left behind and was killed while aiding another wounded comrade. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on February 26, 1946.
MOH CITATION:
He was the leading element when grenade explosions and concentrated machine-gun and mortar fire halted the unit’s attack on Kakazu Ridge, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. With utter disregard for his personal safety, he charged 40 yards through withering, grazing fire and wiped out two machine-gun nests with well-aimed grenades and deadly accurate fire from his automatic rifle. When strong counterattacks and fierce enemy resistance from other positions forced his company to withdraw, he voluntarily remained behind with eight others to cover the maneuver. Fighting from a critically dangerous position for three hours, he killed more than 25 Japanese before following his surviving companions through screening smoke down the face of the ridge to a gorge where it was discovered that one of the group had been left behind, wounded. Unhesitatingly, Pvt. Moskala climbed the bullet-swept slope to assist in the rescue, and, returning to lower ground, volunteered to protect other wounded while the bulk of the troops quickly took up more favorable positions. He had saved another casualty and killed four enemy infiltrators when he was struck and mortally wounded himself while aiding still another disabled soldier. With gallant initiative, unfaltering courage, and heroic determination to destroy the enemy, Pvt. Moskala gave his life in his complete devotion to his company’s mission and his comrades’ well-being. His intrepid conduct provided a lasting inspiration for those with whom he served.
BURIAL LOCATION: ROCK ISLAND NATIONAL CEMETERY, ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.
SECTION E, GRAVE 293.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
