Two U.S. Servicemen were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions on April 14, 1945.
U.S. Army Private First Class John David Magrath of East Norwalk, CT, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions and sacrifice of life in Italy on April 14, 1945.
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Magrath enlisted in the Army in 1943. He served in the 10th Mountain Division. On April 14, 1945, Magrath volunteered to serve as a scout when his company was pinned down by heavy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, near Castle d’Aiano, Italy. He was killed in action at the age of 20. PFC John Magrath was the first Medal of Honor recipient of the 10th Mountain Division.
U.S. Navy submariner George Levick Street III of Richmond, VA, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary actions on April 14, 1945.
Street graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1937. In 1941, after graduating from the Submarine School, Street served in a fleet submarine, USS Gar. He then commanded the USS Tirante, patrolling in waters south of Japan, the South China Sea, the Yellow Sea, and targeting shipping between Korea and Japan.
Tirante’s first war patrol, beginning in March 1945, cost Japan at least six ships. Most notably while patrolling the Yellow Sea between Quelpart Island (Cheju Do) and the mouth of the Yangtze, she received an intelligence report which informed her that an important Japanese transport was at Cheju, the main port on Quelpart Island.
Under cover of darkness, Tirante began her approach in the surface and launched three torpedos at two escort vessels, which blew up in a massive explosion. While Tirante headed back out to sea, pursued by other Japanese escort vessels, she launched a spread of torpedoes which hit and destroyed both pursuers.
Tirante’s stellar performance earned Comdr. Street the Medal of Honor. Lt. Edward L. Beach, the executive officer, received the Navy Cross and the ship herself was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
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