Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Troop D, 41st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), 11th Armored Division "Thunderbolt", U.S. Army (Troop D, 41st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), 11th Armored Division "Thunderbolt", U.S. Army)

For gallantry in action in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
On 1 April 1945, at Neuses, Germany, while serving as a scout sergeant, Sergeant Vana was with the lead platoon of the advance guard. The tanks were stopped at the outskirts of town by enemy automatic weapons, panzerfaust and small arms fire. Having been refused once, Sergeant Vana again called for permission to lead the tanks into town, which was granted. Sergeant Vana led the tanks through town in a 1/4-ton truck, under intense automatic weapons fire, onto the right road out of town, killing many enemy troops with machine gun fire, after his machine gunner was killed by enemy sniper fire. his courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army. Sergeant Vana entered the military service from Chicago, Illinois.