Kasun, Joseph Frank

Date of birth:: November 7th, 1918 (Lowell/Arizona, United States)
Date of death:: February 21st, 2013 (Bayside/California, United States)
Buried on:: Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 40. Row: 185.
Nationality:: American

Biography

Lieutenant colonel

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Bronze Star Medal (BSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1944

"strategically deploying and leading his advance guard company over eight miles of hazardous terrain under heavy German fire with a minimum of casualties."

Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: March 1945

"during a stalled tank-infantry attack on Jagerthal, France, Captain Kasun ran 300 yards through heavy mortar, machine gun, and small arms fire, boarded the lead tank, and, riding exposed, led his men forward. Confronted by a wall, he ordered the tanks to crash through and, after taking positions to support the riflemen, directed tank fire on enemy emplacements on the high ground in the rear of the town. Locating an artillery ammunition dump, he directed fire, completely destroying it."

Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: April 1945

"leading his company forward against fierce enemy fire to capture the city of Landsberg, Germany. With his company split in two sections by enemy fire, he continued forward with twenty-five riflemen and one light machine-gun squad. In the faint light of dawn, he deployed his small force so skillfully around an enemy garrison in the city that the enemy commander, believing himself to be surrounded by a large force, surrendered his entire garrison of almost one thousand men."