(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Infantry) Francis Culotta (ASN: 0-1320437), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving as a Platoon Leader in Cannon Company, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy during World War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Francis Culotta (ASN: 0-1320437), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving in Cannon Company, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 27 and 28 November 1944, in France. Although he was a platoon leader in the Cannon Company, Lieutenant Culotta volunteered to lead an infantry patrol into enemy territory to determine the hostile strength and disposition in the area. Under his skillful leadership, the patrol inflicted several casualties on the enemy and returned to the friendly lines with valuable information. On the following morning, Lieutenant Culotta commanded a task force with the mission of penetrating the hostile defenses and capturing a strategically important mountain. Although the task force was subjected to almost continuous artillery and small arms fire, he refused to take cover in a self-propelled mount and advanced on foot. When three 75-mm. guns opened fire on the task force, Lieutenant Culotta skillfully maneuvered his self-propelled mounts into position and directed a heavy barrage on the weapons, destroying the three guns, killing three of the enemy and forcing the others to flee. He then led his task force through small arms fire to the top of the mountain. Upon encountering a road block of three concrete pill boxes, he guided one of his mounts into position and, from an exposed spot outside the mount, directed effective fire on the strong points, destroying one and forcing the 11 occupants of the other two pill boxes to surrender. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Infantry) Francis Culotta (ASN: 0-1320437), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving as a Platoon Leader in Cannon Company, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy during World War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.