Second Lieutenant STEVEN KOSMYNA, received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action, on 23 September 1944, on Mt. Della Croce, Italy. While advancing in the attack against Mt. Della Croce, Second Lieutenant Kosmyna (then Technical Sergeant) and his platoon became separated from the remainder of the company because of a driving rain and poor visibility. Leading his men to the base of the mountain before the arrival of the other platoons, he decided to attack immediately. Advancing up the hill, the platoon met intense enemy machine gun and small arms fire which forced the men to seek cover. Braving fierce enemy fire, Second Lieutenant Kosmyna assaulted an enemy machine gun position. Throwing a hand grenade into the nest, he jumped into the gun emplacement, killed two Germans and seriously wounded the remaining member of the crew with rifle fire. Next, observing two enemy soldiers occupying a sanger, Second Lieutenant Kosmyna ran toward this position. One of the Germans fled, but the other threw a hand grenade at Second Lieutenant Kosmyna. The grenade struck him in the face, momentarily stunning him, but fell to the ground without exploding. The German soldier then attempted to bayonet him, but Second Lieutenant Kosmyna parried the lunge and killed his opponent with a rifle bullet. The courage, inspiring leadership and combat skill exhibited by Second Lieutenant Kosmyna instilled in his men the offensive spirit necessary for driving the enemy from Mt. Della Croce.

Mr. Kosmyna joined the Legion of Valor in 1962 and resides in New Jersey.