Today’s Tombstone Tuesday highlight is the grave of WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Anthony L. Krotiak. Born in Chicago in 1915 Krotiak enlisted in the United States Army on November 24th, 1941.

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

He was an acting squad leader, directing his men in consolidating a newly won position on Hill B when the enemy concentrated small arms fire and grenades upon him and 4 others, driving them to cover in an abandoned Japanese trench. A grenade thrown from above landed in the center of the group. Instantly pushing his comrades aside and jamming the grenade into the earth with his rifle butt, he threw himself over it, making a shield of his body to protect the other men. The grenade exploded under him, and he died a few minutes later. By his extraordinary heroism in deliberately giving his life to save those of his comrades, Pfc. Krotiak set an inspiring example of utter devotion and self-sacrifice which reflects the highest traditions of the military service.

For the sacrifice of his life to save those around him. Pfc Krotiak was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor the following year during a ceremony on February 13th, 1946. He was laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois next to his parents in Section: 23 Block: 14 Lot: 8.

Sources:

Medal of Honor: Ancestry

Overview: Wikipedia