Albert A. Darago, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Albert A. Darago, Jr. (33731341), Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 143d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Mobile), attached to the 40th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 19 December 1944, in Belgium. During a strong German counteroffensive, the rumbling of an indeterminate number of hostile tanks was heard approaching Private Darago’s 90-mm. gun position. When an Infantry officer from an adjacent unit suddenly appeared in search of two rocket launcher gunners, Private Darago was one of two men to volunteer for the dangerous mission of stopping the tank advance. Although he was unfamiliar with the weapon, he courageously crawled to within forty yards of the tanks. Ignoring the devastating machine gun fire placed upon him, he fired a rocket and scored a direct hit. He returned to the officer to have his weapon reloaded and with undiminished daring crawled back to his original position and, while subjected to intense machine gun fire, scored a second hit and completely destroyed the tank. Private Darago’s great valor, outstanding personal courage and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 40th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.