MICHAEL JOSEPH CRESCENZ

Medal of Honor · awarded posthumously

For conspicuous gallantry

Michael Joseph Crescenz received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, for his actions on November 20, 1968. The official citation reads:

Michael J. Crescenz

Rank and Organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.

Place and date: Hiep Duc Valley area, Republic of Vietnam, November 20, 1968.

Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Born: January 14, 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The President of the United States in the name of the Congress of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

MICHAEL JOSEPH CRESCENZ

Corporal, Army of the United States

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

Cpl. Crescenz distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a rifleman with Company A. In the morning his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the 2 point men, halting the advance of Company A. Immediately, Cpl. Crescenz left the relative safety of his own position, seized a nearby machine gun and, with complete disregard for his safety, charged 100 meters up a slope toward the enemy's bunkers which he effectively silenced, killing the 2 occupants of each. Undaunted by the withering machine gun fire around him, Cpl. Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third bunker which he also succeeded in silencing, killing 2 more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of advance for his comrades. Suddenly, intense machine gun fire erupted from an unseen, camouflaged bunker. Realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, Cpl. Crescenz disregarded the barrage of hostile fire directed at him and daringly advanced toward the position. Assaulting with his machine gun, Cpl. Crescenz was within 5 meters of the bunker when he was mortally wounded by the fire from the enemy machine gun. As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and to complete its mission, defeating the enemy. Cpl. Crescenz's bravery and extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

^ "Michael Joseph Crescenz, Medal of Honor recipient". Vietnam (A-L). United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2006-06-17.

Citation text as reproduced in Wikipedia’s article on Michael Joseph Crescenz; Medal of Honor citations are official U.S. government records. See also the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and all Medal of Honor recipients on the Wall.