Edward A. Plona

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Edward A. Plona (6979521), Technical Sergeant [then Sergeant], U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Troina, Sicily, on 3 August 1943. When intense fire from an enemy machine-gun impeded his platoon’s advance, Technical Sergeant Plona, directing his men to cover his movement, crept forward and silenced the enemy gun with hand grenades; he then fearlessly led a successful assault on enemy positions. Sergeant Plona’s initiative enabled his platoon to take its objective.