Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Regiment:

    112th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    28th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    August 10, 1944

    Headquarters, FIRST U.S. Army, General Orders No. 24 (February 10, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Frank Kielbasa (ASN: 36379307), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 10 August 1944, in France. When his platoon was pinned down by withering machine gun fire, Private First Class Kielbasa, armed with hand grenades, voluntarily crawled through the intense fire to a point approximately forty yards from the weapon. He threw his hand grenades and killed six of the supporting riflemen before he was fatally wounded by a burst of machine gun fire. His squad advanced unobserved through the dust and smoke and captured the hostile weapon without casualties. The self-sacrificing devotion to duty and bravery displayed by Private First Class Kielbasa exemplified the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 28th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.