Bednarz, Walter J.

Date of birth:: May 10th, 1921
Date of death:: September 18th, 1944 (Beek/Gelderland, Netherlands)
Service number:: 20109683
Nationality:: American

Biography

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Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Corporal
Unit:: Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army
Awarded for:: Operation Market Garden

Citation:
Walter J. Bednarz, 20109683, Corporal, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, on 17 September 1944. Corporal Bednarz, as leader of a squad of eight men, was given the mission of establishing and defending a roadblock at important road junction at Beek, Holland. A patrol of 18 German parachutists armed with machine guns and machine pistols attacked and attempted to destroy the position. Corporal Bednarz, upon seeing that he could not fire on this patrol without endangering the lives of a group of civilians directly between his position and the enemy, without regard for his own safety, leapt from his dug-in position and rushed to meet the oncoming enemy. At point blank range he sprayed the attackers with submachine gun fire. His action in single-handedly attacking a vastly superior enemy force in such a manner required the highest type of courage. The unhesitating action of Corporal Bednarz in a critical and unusual situation saved the lives of a number of innocent persons, rendered a most distinguished service by the destruction of an unknown number of enemy and strengthened the security of the position. Corporal Bednarz was killed in this action. Entered military service from Massachusetts.

Posthumously awarded.