Staff Sergeant ANGELO S. VIALE, (then Sergeant), Infantry; United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in action near Kapintalan, Luzon, Philippines Islands, on 2 April 1945. During a successful attack spearheaded by two platoons of Company L, 161st Infantry, against a
well-defended enemy hill, Sergeant Viale, accompanying the force as a mortar observer, acted as a rifleman since his mortars were not used. The platoons pushed forward to a small barren ridge and began to dig in for the night when, suddenly, enemy artillery opened fire. A heavy concentration of 30 rounds in rapid succession fell directly on the position and killed or wounded most of the non-commissioned officers. Heedless of his own safety, Sergeant Viale fearlessly moved among the shocked and confused men and assisted in organizing a withdrawal to a new position. The enemy then began firing 90mm mortar shells which hit the group and killed and wounded many men. Sergeant Viale again assisted in organizing and leading his companions to a position of comparative safety. By this time all the officers and non-commissioned officers had been evacuated and, on his own initiative, Sergeant Viale regrouped his man, organized a litter party and re-entered the impact area to recover the dead and wounded. When an order was received to reoccupy the ridge in order to repel any Japanese counterattacks, Sergeant Viale, on his own initiative, reformed the group and led them back to the ridge in the face of devastating shelling. Later, finding the position untenable, he skillfully withdrew his companions without a casualty. By his coolness in the midst of demoralizing enemy artillery fire, outstanding heroism and skilful and inspiring leadership of disorganized men, Sergeant Viale was instrumental in saving the lives of many wounded and provided an example worthy of the highest traditions of the military service."
