FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Nicholas Oresko ~ 06 Apil 2026

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Nicholas Oresko
Info from here.

           

Nicholas Oresko (January 18, 1917 - October 4, 2013) was a United States Army veteran and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions on 23 January 1945, during World War II.

Born on January 18, 1917, in Bayonne, New Jersey, Oresko later joined the Army from that city in March 1942. He was sent to Europe and arrived in France in September 1944, three months after the Normandy landings, as a platoon sergeant in Company C, 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division. His unit spent the next several months mopping up pockets of German soldiers who had been bypassed in the Allies' initial push through the northern part of France. In December 1944 they were redeployed to replace the 90th Infantry Division as part of Patton's 3d Army. The 94th assumed positions opposite the Westwall and the German 11th Panzer Division. On January 23, 1945, near Tettingen, Germany, Oresko, by then a master sergeant, single-handedly defeated a German bunker, was seriously wounded, and then destroyed a second bunker despite his injuries. For his heroic actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor nine months later, on October 30, 1945. The medal was formally presented to him by President Harry Truman during a ceremony at the White House. Following the death of Barney F. Hajiro in January 2011, Oresko became the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient. Oresko lived in Cresskill, New Jersey. Bayonne School #14 was renamed in his honor in July 2010. Oresko died while undergoing surgery for a broken femur on October 4, 2013. He was 96 years old.

Master Sergeant Oresko's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

M/Sgt. Oresko was a platoon leader with Company C, in an attack against strong enemy positions. Deadly automatic fire from the flanks pinned down his unit. Realizing that a machine gun in a nearby bunker must be eliminated, he swiftly worked ahead alone, braving bullets which struck about him, until close enough to throw a grenade into the German position. He rushed the bunker and, with pointblank rifle fire, killed all the hostile occupants who survived the grenade blast. Another machine gun opened up on him, knocking him down and seriously wounding him in the hip. Refusing to withdraw from the battle, he placed himself at the head of his platoon to continue the assault. As withering machine gun and rifle fire swept the area, he struck out alone in advance of his men to a second bunker. With a grenade, he crippled the dug-in machine gun defending this position and then wiped out the troops manning it with his rifle, completing his second self-imposed, 1-man attack. Although weak from loss of blood, he refused to be evacuated until assured the mission was successfully accomplished. Through quick thinking, indomitable courage, and unswerving devotion to the attack in the face of bitter resistance and while wounded, M/Sgt. Oresko killed 12 Germans, prevented a delay in the assault, and made it possible for Company C to obtain its objective with minimum casualties.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport

[learner]

I am looking for the guy that was the Medel Of Honer that was posted earlier.
Please send the link.
Thanks georgeD

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Nicholas Oresko ~

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[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Internet behaving today so you’re able to get caught up on the work you missed out on yesterday?

Pretty up there and NOAA says it’s 41 degrees!! Heat wave! LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, learner...do you know who? Robby Miller last week? We have a new hero each week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...any rain? You and Champ finish all your assigned tasks?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Not a single “internet incident” today. Still catching up but satisfied with progress.

Fingers crossed that spring is here, but we almost always get a “surprise” that makes everyone grumpy. We will see. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[luvie]

Nicholas Oresko
January 18, 1917 - October 4, 2013
United States Army veteran.
Medal of Honor recipient
for his actions on 23 January 1945,
during World War II.
What a brave hero he was.
And he lived a good long life.

[radu]

I somehow got a half inch of rain overnight. I talked to a friend this afternoon who lives maybe 20 miles from here and he got an inch and a half. It’s just been so dry here for so long, rain couldn’t reach the ground for the first couple of hours. I was in a hole on the radar signature. It finally stopped evaporating and I got sprinkles the rest of the time.

Never got around to mowing the front yard at the old house. Everything else was done though.

[PROCON]

Thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero, Kathy, an incredible story!

[radu]

‘Bout time the internet straightened out. It messed your work schedule up this weekend. Hope you get caught up so you’re ready for the week ahead.

Spring isn’t quite there yet but it’s moving in. Some snow showers forecast this week but they’ll be at night or early morning. After tomorrow, you have highs in the 40s in store!
And some rain. Might not be a very pretty week but you should see less and less snow as the week progresses.
Time to get to see the grass again!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Feeling less crabby today? :-)

[Repeal The 17th]

Thank your for your attention to this matter.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie, and thanks for helping honor our hero, Nicholas Oresko.

Did you get a good nap today?

[Kathy in Alaska]

A half inch....a good start.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evenng, Pro...we must remember our heroes.

Ready for a nice spring week?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bring on the spring rains!!! There is SOOO much snow to melt.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Repeal, and you are most welcome.