Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Company I, 3rd Battalion, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 13th Airborne Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

July 27th, 1945

Private First Class Edmund Zygnowicz, 16065037, 517th Parachute Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action in Belgium. On 11 January 1945, Company I was assigned the mission of advancing to and securing the town of Hort, Belgium and the surrounding ground which overlooked the position of a bridge that was under construction. This bridge was urgently needed for troops and supplies to cross the river. Private First Class Zygnowicz, acting as lead scout, was advancing along the narrow road into the town when a heavy burst of machine gun fire barely missed him and passed into the main body. Unobserved, Private First Class Zygnowicz crawled to the side of the road and advanced toward the enemy position. With one well aimed shot from his rifle-grenade launcher he killed four of the enemy, allowing the platoon to continue its advance with a minimum of delay. As the unit continued into the town severe house to house fighting ensued and Private First Class Zygnowicz displayed great courage and skill in driving the enemy from the stronghold. Heavy concentrations of rifle and machine gun fire from one particular house forced the unit to hasitate, reorganize and prepare a flank movement, but Private First Class Zygnowicz, still in advanceof his platoon, continued to move on the house. After firing several grenades into the building he rushed the house from the rear and so surprised the enemy that eleven of them surrendered without further opposition. In this action Private First Class Zygnowicz exhibited aggressive and courageous devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered the military service from Detroit, Michigan.

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