b. 21/04/1916 Bayside, California. d. 05/02/1945 Manila, Philippines.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/02/1945 Manila, Philippines.
Robert M Viale MOH
Robert was born on April 21, 1916 in Bayside, California, to David George Viale (1890–1970)and his wife Bessie Marguerite, born Lewis Viale (1891–1957). Robert had two sisters and two brothers, George Marvin Viale (1914-1986), Mary Josephine Viale Burns (1920–1987), Margaret Louise Viale Halkides (1923–2005) and Raymond Ralph Viale (1926–1945). Raymond was a private in the US Army too and died on 25-02-1945 (age 19) in battle in Iwo Jima, Ogasawara-shichō, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan.
The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945) was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and United States Navy (USN) landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. The American invasion, designated Operation Detachment, had the goal of capturing the island with its two airfields: South Field and Central Field.
Robert entered the U.S. Army at Ukiah, California. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant with Company K, 148th Infantry, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence White of the 37th Infantry Division under command of Lieutenant Colonel William Burpee. Robert’s Medal of Honor action occurred on February 5, 1945, in the battle of Manila Phillipines.
The Battle of Manila Batalla de Manila; 3 February – 3 March 1945) was a major battle of the Philippine campaign of 1944–45, during the Second World War. It was fought by forces from both the United States and the Philippines against Japanese troops in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. The month-long battle, which resulted in the death of at least 100,000 civilians and the complete devastation of the city, was the scene of the worst urban fighting fought by American forces in the Pacific theater. During the battle, Japanese forces committed mass murder against Filipino civilians, while American firepower killed many people. The resistance of the Japanese and American artillery also destroyed much of Manila’s architectural and cultural heritage dating back to the city’s founding. Often referred to as “the Stalingrad of Asia”, the battle is widely considered to be one of the most intense and worst urban battles ever fought, with it being the single largest urban battle ever fought by American forces.
Robert Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others.” he received the Medal of Honor. His citation, issued 25-10-1945, reads: ” Robert Viale displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy’s detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from 3 enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With 2 men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men’s protecting fire; the other 2 were silenced by 1 of his companions and a bazooka team
which he had called up. Robert suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machinegun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In 1 room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative positions of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than 1 of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the 5 seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. 2d Lieutenant Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others.”
Robert Viale died on 05-02-1945, age 28 and is buried at the Ocean View Cemetery Eureka, Humboldt County, California, United States, Oceanview Cemetery, 3975 Broadway St, Eureka, CA. Section N, Grave #91.
MOH CITATION:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy’s detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from three enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With two men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men’s protecting fire; the other two were silenced by one of his companions and a bazooka team which he had called up. He suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machine gun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In one room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative position of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than one of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the five seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. Second Lt. Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others.
BURIAL LOCATION: OCEAN VIEW CEMETERY, EUREKA, CALIFORNIA.
SECTION N, GRAVE 91.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
