Dominick Ditullio

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Dominick DiTullio (33037230), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. Private First Class DiTullio, while a member of a wire section which had advanced three hundred yards beyond the front lines in attempting to establish contact with a forward unit, volunteered to lead the Communications Officer forward for further information and immediately set out in the lead of the party. After covering considerable territory in advance of the front line under heavy firing from friendly and enemy troops, they determined that the company they were seeking had withdrawn and, while returning, came upon two trucks loaded with Germans. Private First Class DiTullio, without a moment’s hesitation, opened fire on the enemy, and forced them to take cover, thereby preventing their discovering the weakness of the party. After killing one German and forcing two to surrender, he advanced with fixed bayonet across the open road to make sure that all the enemy had withdrawn and then remained behind to cover the continued withdrawal of his own party. When the Germans drove cattle down the road in an attempt to detonate a mined roadblock, Private First Class DiTullio cam out of his cover, turned the cattle back and hand grenaded the Germans behind him. He then reached the Battalion Aid Station which was under hostile fire so severe as to prevent aid men from securing necessary water. Without thought of his own safety, he crossed the fire-swept area to a pump and was killed in the act of pumping water for the assistance of his comrades. The high courage and absolute contempt for danger shown by Private First Class DiTullio made him an inspiring example of fortitude and heroism for his entire unit. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.