Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Company D, 81st Tank Battalion, 5th Armored Division "Victory", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

December 6th, 1944

Citation:
"For gallantry in action in Germany on 21 September 1944. Private Costanzo was leading a supply train in a light tank. At a river crossing, his tank was hit by an enemy anti-tank rocket launcher, wounding all of the crew except himself, but he remained in position giving protective fire for a group of engineers who were clearing mines in the vicinity and when they had reached the shelter of his tank he returned to the friendly side of the river. He returned shortly in another tank with a crew consisting of one other man and immediately went into firing position. At this point an officer was seriously wounded and the crew of a one-quarter ton truck pinned down by enemy fire. Private Costanzo maneuvered the tank in such a manner as to protect the wounded officer and the other men but continued to fire at the enemy until they were routed. His actions are worthy of the highest traditions of the military service.


Headquarters, 5th Armored Divions, General Orders No. 23 (6 December 1944).