Leo J . Powers Leo J . Powers ( April 5 , 1909 – July 14 , 1967 ) 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 during the Battle of Monte Cassino . Biography . A farmer before the war , Powers joined the Army from Alder Gulch , Montana in September 1942 . By February 3 , 1944 was serving as a private first class in the 133rd Infantry Regiment , 34th Infantry Division . On that day , northwest of Cassino , Italy , Powers single - handedly destroyed three German machine gun emplacements . He was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later , on January 15 , 1945 . Powers reached the rank of Sergeant before leaving the Army . He died at age 58 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery , Butte , Montana . Medal of Honor citation . Powers ' official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty . On 3 February 1944 , this soldier ' s company was assigned the mission of capturing Hill 175 , the key enemy strong point northwest of Cassino , Italy . The enemy , estimated to be at least 50 in strength , supported by machineguns emplaced in 3 pillboxes and mortar fire from behind the hill , was able to pin the attackers down and inflict 8 casualties . The company was unable to advance , but Pfc . Powers , a rifleman in 1 of the assault platoons , on his own initiative and in the face of the terrific fire , crawled forward to assault 1 of the enemy pillboxes which he had spotted . Armed with 2 handgrenades and well aware that if the enemy should see him it would mean almost certain death , Pfc . Powers crawled up the hill to within 15 yards of the enemy pillbox . Then standing upright in full view of the enemy gunners in order to throw his grenade into the small opening in the roof , he tossed a grenade into the pillbox . At this close , the grenade entered the pillbox , killed 2 of the occupants and 3 or 4 more fled the position , probably wounded . This enemy gun silenced , the center of the line was able to move forward again , but almost immediately came under machinegun fire from a second enemy pillbox on the left flank . Pfc . Powers , however , had located this pillbox , and crawled toward it with absolutely no cover if the enemy should see him . Raising himself in full view of the enemy gunners about 15 feet from the pillbox , Pfc . Powers threw his grenade into the pillbox , silencing this gun , killing another German and probably wounding 3 or 4 more who fled . Pfc . Powers , still acting on his own initiative , commenced crawling toward the third enemy pillbox in the face of heavy machine - pistol and machinegun fire . Skillfully availing himself of the meager cover and concealment , Pfc . Powers crawled up to within 10 yards of this pillbox fully exposed himself to the enemy gunners , stood upright and tossed the 2 grenades into the small opening in the roof of the pillbox . His grenades killed 2 of the enemy and 4 more , all wounded , came out and surrendered to Pfc . Powers , who was now unarmed . Pfc . Powers had worked his way over the entire company front , and against tremendous odds had single - handedly broken the backbone of this heavily defended and strategic enemy position , and enabled his regiment to advance into the city of Cassino . Pfc . Powers ' fighting determination and intrepidity in battle exemplify the highest traditions of the U . S . Armed Forces .