COLONEL SAMUEL T. BATTALIO, received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism while a first lieutenant of the Army Air Forces during World War II. On 19 September 1944, he was serving as lead bombadier of a heavy bombardment combat wing on a bombing mission over enemy occupied territory. On that date, as his airplane approached the primary target, the then Lieutenant Battalio, was severely wounded by a burst of flak which fractured one of his legs and caused multiple lacerations on his right arm. Unfavorable weather conditions restricted visibility and as he was under orders not to release his bombs unless sighting was perfect, he proceeded to the secondary target and despite the severity of his wounds, insisted upon two runs on it in a futile attempt to sight the target. Although weak from loss of blood, and despite the intense anticraft fire, he cooly continued his search, finally located a suitable objective and dropped his bombs directly on target.

Colonel Battalio joined the Legion of Valor in 1977.