branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards placeofburial_label battles birth_date rank article_title name
united states army pottstown , pennsylvania 9 june 2008 cooperstown , pennsylvania united states of america 30th infantry regiment , 3rd infantry division medal of honor place of burial world war ii battle of cisterna 31 december 1923 staff sergeant alton w. knappenberger
 alton w. knappenberger
alton w. knappenberger

alton warren knappenberger -lrb- december 31 , 1923 -- june 9 , 2008 -rrb- 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 .
knappenberger joined the army from spring mount , pennsylvania in march 1943 , and by february 1 , 1944 was serving as a private first class in the 30th infantry regiment , 3rd infantry division .
on that day , during the battle of cisterna in italy , knappenberger held an exposed position alone and harassed the attacking germans with his automatic rifle until he ran out of ammunition .
for his actions during the battle , he was issued the medal of honor three months later , on may 26 , 1944 .
