CAPTAIN JOSEPH A. KATALINAS, Infantry U.S. Army. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy on Ie Shima Ryukyus Islands, on 20 April 1945. Captain Katalinas’ battalion was attacking Iegusuguyama, a dominating peak which had honeycombed with caves and studded with reinforced concrete pillboxes. The terrain over which the attack was advancing afforded the battalion neither cover nor concealment. It likewise was honeycombed with entrenchments, barbed wire entanglements and was strewn with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. When the assault companies began to slow down under the accurate and intense fire of enemy mortars, machine guns and anti-tank guns, Captain Katalinas’ company, which had been in reserve, was passed through the right assault unit to capture the battalion objective. As the last rounds of his artillery preperations fell, Captain Katalinas leaped to his feet and presonally led his company in charging assault against the peak. Inspired by his heroism and determined leadership the company, without hesitation, followed him through the intense mortar and machine gun cross-fire and in a matter of minutes captured the peak and destroyed over 100 of the enemy. During the assault Captain Katalinas personally charged an enemy machine gun and 90mm mortar position. He killed the entire crew of seven and destroyed both the machine gun and mortar. Continuing forward he was wounded in the shoulder but killed the enemy soldier who fired the shot. Disregarding his wound he continued on and was again seriously wounded by a hand grenade thrown at him at close range. He killed the enemy officer who threw the grenade. Despite his wounds Captain Katalinas reorganized his company on its objective, issued instructions to his second in command and only then did he return to the rear, unaided, for medical treatment. The extraordinary heroism and superb leadership displayed in this action by Captain Katalinas inspired his company and the remainder of his battalion to follow him in the assault and accomplished the capture of the objective in the minimum of time against overwhelming odds.

LTC Katalinas joined the Legion of Valor in 1947.