Congressional Medal of Honor

Peter J. Dalessandro
Congressional Medal of Honor

Technical Sergeant, US Army, Company E. 39th Infantry, 9th
Infantry Division Sergeant DAlessandro was born May 19, 1918.
Entered service at: Watervliet, N.Y.
Presented the Congressional Medal of Honor
by President Harry S. Truman on June 25, 1945

Sergeant DAlessandro was with the 1st Platoon holding an important road junction near Kalterherbery, Germany when on December 22, 1944, in the early morning hours, the enemy began laying down an intense mortar and artillery barrage on his position. This was followed by an all out attack that threatened to overwhelm the position. Sergeant DAlessandro, seeing that his men were becoming disorganized, braved the intense fire to move among his troops with words of encouragement. Advancing to a fully exposed observation post, he adjusted mortar fire upon the attackers, meanwhile firing upon them with his rifle and encouraging his men in halting and repulsing the attack.

Later that same day the enemy launched a second determined attack. Once again, Sergeant DAlessandro, in the face of imminent death, rushed to his forward position and immediately called for mortar fire. After exhausting his rifle ammunition, he crawled 30 yards over exposed ground to secure a light machine gun, returned to his position, and fired upon the enemy at almost point blank range until the gun jammed. He managed to get the gun to fire one more burst, which used up his last rounds, but with these bullets he killed four German soldiers who were on the verge of killing a medic and two wounded soldiers who were in a nearby foxhole.

When the enemy had almost surrounded him, he remained alone, steadfastly facing certain death or capture, hurling grenades and calling for mortar fire closer and closer to his position as he covered the with draw of his platoon to a second line of defense. As the German hordes swarmed about him, he was last heard calling for a barrage, saying "OK, mortars, let me have it - right in this position!".

The bravery, gallantry and intrepidity shown by Sergeant DAlessandro against an overwhelming enemy attack, saved his company from a complete rout. Sergeant DAlessandro was wounded, captured and held in a prisoner of war camp.

Duty Honor Country
Dedicated May 25, 1998

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Watervliet, NY  |  Albany County  |  12189  |  New York  |  United States of America

U.S. Army 3 Inch M5 Antitank Gun
In Memory of Those Who Served, a War Memorial
The Nalle Rescue
Meneely Foundry
Saint Patrick's Church Bell
Civil War Parrott Rifle
City of Watervliet
Mayor James F. Cavanaugh
Uncle Sam
Erie Canal

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.