John W. Dutko

A lone assault at Ponte Rotto

John W. Dutko was born on 24 October 1916 in Dilltown, Pennsylvania. During the Second World War, he served with Company A, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division of the United States Army.

On 23 May 1944 near Ponte Rotto, Italy, Private First Class Dutko left a trench during an artillery concentration and attacked three machine-gun positions and an 88-mm gun. Wounded during the advance, he continued until all four weapons had been silenced. He died at the final position.

Dutko was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. Major General Henry Terrill Jr. presented the medal to his widow, Ethel, on 14 October 1944. He is buried in Beverly National Cemetery in New Jersey.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, 23 May 1944, near Ponte Rotto, Italy. Pfc. Dutko left the cover of an abandoned enemy trench at the height of an artillery concentration in a singlehanded attack upon three enemy machine-guns and an 88-mm mobile gun. Despite the intense fire of these four weapons which were aimed directly at him, Pfc.

Dutko ran 100 yards through the impact area, paused momentarily in a shell crater, and then continued his one-man assault. Although machine-gun bullets kicked up the dirt at his heels, and 88-mm shells exploded within 30 yards of him, Pfc. Dutko nevertheless made his way to a point within 30 yards of the first enemy machine gun and killed both gunners with a hand grenade. Although the second machine gun wounded him, knocking him to the ground, Pfc.

Dutko regained his feet and advanced on the 88-mm gun, firing his Browning automatic rifle from the hip. When he came within 10 yards of this weapon he killed its five-man crew with one long burst of fire. Wheeling on the machine gun which had wounded him, Pfc. Dutko killed the gunner and his assistant. The third German machine gun fired on Pfc. Dutko from a position 20 yards distant wounding him a second time as he proceeded toward the enemy weapon in a half run.

He killed both members of its crew with a single burst from his Browning automatic rifle, continued toward the gun and died, his body falling across the dead German crew.