Lt.Colonel JOHN G. FINKE, received the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in Sicily in August, 1943. When a platoon of Captain Finke’s company was flanking an enemy position, the platoon leader was seriously wounded. Seeing this, Captain Finke crawled over 300 yards through constant terrific small arms fire to the platoon and took over command. About halfway to the objective, he was himself wounded in the head, but continued the attack until the platoon had successfully occupied the position. His gallant action was an inspiration to the whole company and materially aided in the eventual taking of the Battalion and Regimental objectives.

LTC. Finke joined the Legion of Valor in 1963 and resides in New York.