Thomas E . McCall Thomas Edward McCall ( May 9 , 1916 – September 19 , 1965 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions during the Battle of Monte Cassino in World War II . Biography . McCall joined the Army from Veedersburg , Indiana , and by January 22 , 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company F , 143rd Infantry Regiment , 36th Infantry Division . On that day , near San Angelo , Italy , he led his section in the crossing of the Rapido River despite intense German fire . After all his men had been killed or wounded , he single - handedly destroyed two enemy machine gun positions and charged a third before being captured . For his actions , he was awarded the Medal of Honor the next year , on April 17 , 1945 . McCall also served and was wounded in the Korean War , reaching the rank of Master Sergeant . McCall died at age 49 and was buried in Spring Vale Cemetery , Lafayette , Indiana . He drowned while rescuing his 8 - year - old son , Thomas . Medal of Honor citation . Staff Sergeant McCall ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty . On 22 January 1944 , Company F had the mission of crossing the Rapido River in the vicinity of San Angelo , Italy , and attacking the well - prepared German positions to the west . For the defense of these positions the enemy had prepared a network of machinegun positions covering the terrain to the front with a pattern of withering machinegun fire , and mortar and artillery positions zeroed in on the defilade areas . S / Sgt . McCall commanded a machinegun section that was to provide added fire support for the riflemen . Under cover of darkness , Company F advanced to the river crossing site and under intense enemy mortar , artillery , and machinegun fire crossed an ice - covered bridge which was continually the target for enemy fire . Many casualties occurred on reaching the west side of the river and reorganization was imperative . Exposing himself to the deadly enemy machinegun and small arms fire that swept over the flat terrain , S / Sgt . McCall , with unusual calmness , encouraged and welded his men into an effective fighting unit . He then led them forward across the muddy , exposed terrain . Skillfully he guided his men through a barbed - wire entanglement to reach a road where he personally placed the weapons of his two squads into positions of vantage , covering the battalion ' s front . A shell landed near one of the positions , wounding the gunner , killing the assistant gunner , and destroying the weapon . Even though enemy shells were falling dangerously near , S / Sgt . McCall crawled across the treacherous terrain and rendered first aid to the wounded man , dragging him into a position of cover with the help of another man . The gunners of the second machinegun had been wounded from the fragments of an enemy shell , leaving S / Sgt . McCall the only remaining member of his machinegun section . Displaying outstanding aggressiveness , he ran forward with the weapon on his hip , reaching a point 30 yards from the enemy , where he fired 2 bursts of fire into the nest , killing or wounding all of the crew and putting the gun out of action . A second machinegun now opened fire upon him and he rushed its position , firing his weapon from the hip , killing 4 of the guncrew . A third machinegun , 50 yards in rear of the first two , was delivering a tremendous volume of fire upon our troops . S / Sgt . McCall spotted its position and valiantly went toward it in the face of overwhelming enemy fire . He was last seen courageously moving forward on the enemy position , firing his machinegun from his hip . S / Sgt . McCall ' s intrepidity and unhesitating willingness to sacrifice his life exemplify the highest traditions of the Armed Forces .