*CICCHETTI, JOSEPH J.
Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Place and date:
South Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 9 February 1945. Entered service at:
Waynesburg, Ohio. Birth: Waynesburg, Ohio. G.O. No.: 115, 8 December
1945.
Citation:
He was with troops assaulting the first important line of enemy defenses. The Japanese had
converted the partially destroyed Manila Gas Works and adjacent buildings into a
formidable system of mutually supporting strongpoints from which they were concentrating
machinegun, mortar, and heavy artillery fire on the American forces. Casualties rapidly
mounted, and the medical aid men, finding it increasingly difficult to evacuate the
wounded, called for volunteer litter bearers. Pfc. Cicchetti immediately responded,
organized a litter team and skillfully led it for more than 4 hours in rescuing 14 wounded
men, constantly passing back and forth over a 400-yard route which was the impact area for
a tremendous volume of the most intense enemy fire. On 1 return trip the path was blocked
by machinegun fire, but Pfc. Cicchetti deliberately exposed himself to draw the automatic
fire which he neutralized with his own rifle while ordering the rest of the team to rush
past to safety with the wounded. While gallantly continuing his work, he noticed a group
of wounded and helpless soldiers some distance away and ran to their rescue although the
enemy fire had increased to new fury. As he approached the casualties, he was struck in
the head by a shell fragment, but with complete disregard for his gaping wound he
continued to his comrades, lifted 1 and carried him on his shoulders 50 yards to safety.
He then collapsed and died. By his skilled leadership, indomitable will, and dauntless
courage, Pfc. Cicchetti saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his
own.
