Joseph J. Sadowski

He returned to a burning tank to save a trapped crew member.

Joseph John Sadowski was born on 7 December 1916 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He served as a sergeant and tank commander with Company A, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division during the Second World War.

On 14 September 1944 at Valhey, France, his tank was hit and caught fire during an advance through the town. Sadowski ordered his crew to take cover. Learning that the bow gunner had not escaped, he returned under enemy fire and tried to open the hatch. He was killed during the rescue attempt. His action inspired the remaining tank crews to continue their advance.

Sadowski received the Medal of Honor posthumously. Major General Francis B. Melon presented it to his family at Fort George Meade, Maryland. He is buried in St. Stephen's Cemetery in Keasby, New Jersey.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Valhey, France. On the afternoon of 14 September 1944, Sgt. Sadowski as a tank commander was advancing with the lead elements of Combat Command A, 4th Armored Division, through an intensely severe barrage of enemy fire from the streets and buildings of the town of Valhey. As Sgt. Sadowski's tank advanced through the hail of fire, it was struck by a shell from an 88-mm gun fired at a range of 20 yards.

The tank was disabled and burst into flames. The suddenness of the enemy attack caused confusion and hesitation among the crews of the remaining tanks of our forces. Sgt. Sadowski immediately ordered his crew to dismount and take cover in the adjoining buildings. After his crew had dismounted, Sgt. Sadowski discovered that one member of the crew, the bow gunner, had been unable to leave the tank.

Although the tank was being subjected to a withering hail of enemy small-arms, bazooka, grenade, and mortar fire from the streets and from the windows of adjacent buildings, Sgt. Sadowski unhesitatingly returned to his tank and endeavored to pry up the bow gunner's hatch. While engaged in this attempt to rescue his comrade from the burning tank, he was cut down by a stream of machine-gun fire which resulted in his death.

The gallant and noble sacrifice of his life in the aid of his comrade, undertaken in the face of almost certain death, so inspired the remainder of the tank crews that they pressed forward with greater ferocity and completely destroyed the enemy forces in this town without further loss to themselves. The heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sgt.

Sadowski, which resulted in his death, inspired the remainder of his forces to press forward to victory and reflect the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.