Patrick L . Kessler Patrick L . Kessler ( March 17 , 1922 – May 25 , 1944 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Biography . Kessler joined the Army from his birthplace of Middletown , Ohio in September 1942 , and by May 23 , 1944 was serving as a private first class in Company K , 30th Infantry Regiment , 3rd Infantry Division . On that day , near Ponte Rotto , Italy , he single - handedly charged two German positions , a machine gun nest and a strongpoint , and captured sixteen German soldiers , including two sniper s . Kessler was killed in action two days later and , on January 4 , 1945 , posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions near Ponte Rotto . Kessler , aged 22 at his death , was buried at Woodside Cemetery in his hometown of Middletown , Ohio . Medal of Honor citation . Private First Class Kessler ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty . Pfc . Kessler , acting without orders , raced through a hail of machinegun fire , which had killed 5 of his comrades and halted the advance of his company , in order to form an assault group to destroy the machinegun . Ordering 3 men to act as a base of fire , he left the cover of a ditch and snaked his way to a point within of the enemy machinegun before he was discovered , whereupon he plunged headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire . Reaching a spot within of the emplacement he stood over it and killed both the gunner and his assistant , jumped into the gun position , overpowered and captured a third German after a short struggle . The remaining member of the crew escaped , but Pfc . Kessler wounded him as he ran . While taking his prisoner to the rear , this soldier saw 2 of his comrades killed as they assaulted an enemy strongpoint , fire from which had already killed 10 men in the company . Turning his prisoner over to another man , Pfc . Kessler crawled to the side of 1 of the casualties , relieved him of his BAR and ammunition and continued on toward the strongpoint , distant . Although 2 machineguns concentrated their fire directly on him and shells exploded within , bowling him over , Pfc . Kessler crawled , passing through an antipersonnel mine field to a point within of the enemy and engaged the machineguns in a duel . When an artillery shell burst within a few feet of him , he left the cover of a ditch and advanced upon the position in a slow walk , firing his BAR from the hip . Although the enemy poured heavy machinegun and small arms fire at him , Pfc . Kessler succeeded in reaching the edge of their position , killed the gunners , and captured 13 Germans . Then , despite continuous shelling , he started to the rear . After going , Pfc . Kessler was fired upon by 2 snipers only away . Several of his prisoners took advantage of this opportunity and attempted to escape ; however , Pfc . Kessler hit the ground , fired on either flank of his prisoners , forcing them to cover , and then engaged the 2 snipers in a fire fight , and captured them . With this last threat removed , Company K continued its advance , capturing its objective without further opposition . Pfc . Kessler was killed in a subsequent action .