| Birth: | Dec. 1, 1925
Hibbing
St. Louis County
Minnesota, USA | | Death: | Dec. 30, 2011
Duluth
St. Louis County
Minnesota, USA | 
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. One of nine children born to Italian immigrants, he enlisted in the US Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on February 2, 1944. Assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, his company was pinned downed by heavy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire in the vicinity of Untergriesheim, Germany on April 7, 1945. Colalillo used a supporting tank to run forward, inspiring his comrades to do the same. His machine pistol was destroyed by shrapnel so he climbed a friendly tank and manned the exposed machinegun on the turret, destroying two enemy machineguns and killing, wounding or scattering four enemy positions. When his machinegun jammed, he used a submachine gun from the tank crew and continued to attack on foot. "By his intrepidity and inspiring courage (he) gave tremendous impetus to his company's attack, killed or wounded 25 of the enemy in bitter fighting, and assisted a wounded soldier in reaching the American lines at great risk of his own life." He received his medal from President Harry Truman on December 18, 1945. After the war, he worked as a coal dump laborer and longshoreman, retiring in 1987. At his death he was Minnesota's last living CMOH recipient. (bio by: Thom Painter)
Family links:
Spouse:
Lina Nissila Colalillo (1925 - 2007)
Search Amazon for Michael Colalillo | | | Burial:
Forest Hill Cemetery
Duluth
St. Louis County
Minnesota, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: James Radzak
Record added: Dec 30, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 82703001 |
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