Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Regiment:

    62d Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft)

    Action Date:

    August 24, 1936

    War Department, General Orders No. 5 (1937)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Private Anthony A. Masella (ASN: 6878301), United States Army, for heroism, not involving actual conflict with an enemy, displayed while serving with Battery E, 62d Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft), in rescuing a comrade from drowning at Fort Totten, New York on 24 August 1936. While in swimming, Private Masella noticed that a comrade had submerged and failed to come to the surface. Together with another soldier, Private Masella swam quickly to where they last saw the drowning man and, after diving to the bottom, located him and succeeded in bringing him to shore where they administered artificial respiration, thereby saving his life.