Jack A. Manna

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Jack Anthony Manna, United States Army, for gallantry in action at *****, *****, on 23 June 1944. When an artillery reconnaissance group was trapped by enemy fire, Private MANNA, as a member of a patrol sent to rescue the group, moved forward with the patrol until it was pinned down by heavy enemy machine gun fire, the patrol taking cover near a small house. An adjoining marine patrol engaged on the same mission, called to Private MANNA’S patrol requesting the hand grenades be delivered to them. He voluntarily left the cover of the house, crossed an open field then under heavy enemy fire and reached the marine patrol, delivering the sorely needed grenades. At that moment observing an enemy machine gun pointing directly at his position, he pushed an unidentified marine out of the line of fire, just as the enemy machine gun fired. He returned the fire, silencing the machine gun, but was fatally wounded in the action. He returned the fire, silencing the machine gun, but was fatally wounded in the action. His courageous acts saved the life of one marine, put an enemy machine gun out of action, and permitted both patrols to advance up the ridge toward their objective.