Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Company D, 2nd Battalion, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 13th Airborne Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

July 27th, 1945

Private First Class Michael J. Kane, 33470295, 517th Parachute Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action near Medell, Belgium, 21 January 1945. Private First Class Kane, with his rocket launcher, was sent out with a patrol from Company D to make a reconnaissance and install a roadblock in front of the company’s position. Upon sighting an approaching enemy armored column, Private First Class Kane rushed to within twenty-five yards of the lead tank and crippled it with one round from his weapon. He then attacked the two following tanks and damaging them, caused them to retreat under a hail of small arms fire from the patrol. Private First Class Kane then attacked two armored half-tracks with such accuracy of fire that one was forced to retreat and the other had to be abandoned. Another tank entered the action but was struck in the hull by another of Private First Class Kane’s rounds causing it to retreat. A Royal Tiger tank then attacked the platoon’s position with machine guns blazing in a final effort to wipe out the patrol. Private First Class Kanefinal round damaged the tank’s motor causing the tank to withdraw. Private First Class Kane’s courage, aggressiveness and superb skill with his weapon caused six enemy armored vehicles to be destroyed or damaged which resulted in many casualties to the enemy and afforded security to a patrol in a precarious position. Entered the military service from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Headquarters, 13th Airborne Division, General Orders No. 48 (27 July 1945).