Michael J. Valek

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Private First Class (then Private) Michael J. Valek, 35 765 352, Infantry, Company “B”, 7th Infantry Regiment. On the night of 20 April 1944, as Private First Class Valek was voluntarily leading a combat patrol towards an enemy position near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he was subjected to machine gun and rifle fire. Crawling to a small ground rise 40 yards away, Private First Class Valek opened fire at the enemy less than 200 yards away, drawing in return tracer fire that revealed the hostile positions. This enabled the patrol to close in on the Germans, and, when his comrades were in positions, Private First Class Valek led an assault that captured 15 prisoners.