Frank Kielbasa
Private First Class, U.S. Army

On 10 August 1944, Private First Class Frank Kielbasa was serving with an Infantry Company of the 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, First U.S. Army.

On that day, PFC Kielbasa’s unit was in action against German forces in France. When his platoon was pinned down by heavy machine gun fire, PFC Kielbasa, armed with hand grenades, voluntarily crawled through the intense fire to a point about 40 yards from the weapon. PFC Kielbasa threw his hand grenades and killed 6 of the supporting German riflemen before he was fatally wounded by a burst of machine gun fire. His squad then advanced unobserved through the dust and smoke and captured the hostile weapon without further casualties. PFC Kielbasa’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Frank Kielbasa (ASN: 36379307), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 10 August 1944, in France. When his platoon was pinned down by withering machine gun fire, Private First Class Kielbasa, armed with hand grenades, voluntarily crawled through the intense fire to a point approximately forty yards from the weapon. He threw his hand grenades and killed six of the supporting riflemen before he was fatally wounded by a burst of machine gun fire. His squad advanced unobserved through the dust and smoke and captured the hostile weapon without casualties. The self-sacrificing devotion to duty and bravery displayed by Private First Class Kielbasa exemplified the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 28th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 24 (February 10, 1945)

Burial

Private First Class Frank Kielbasa is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France, in Plot A, Row 4, Grave 7.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56350073/frank-kielbasa