september july united_states_army infantry officer received united_states military highest decoration medal honor actions world war received medal single eliminating german soldiers including german patrol destroying machine gun nests resigned year fight world war sent europe participating day landings day invasion fought germany wounded received battlefield commission second lieutenant returned combat participated action earned medal honor presented medal honor ceremony white house president went hometown started family businessman died cancer home age early life born september new_york_city resided entire life connecticut year wife lived county ireland father colonel world war world war veteran recipient nominated medal honor twice receive great grandfather irish immigrant mayor new_york_city 1890s brothers sisters military service world war graduated joined army neighborhood attended west_point new_york classmate academy admission mediocre student having severe disciplinary problems continuously placed special confinement walking punishment tours resigned appointment year fight world war sent europe eighteen year old infantry private trained england took day landings father volunteered serve war sent regimental commander france participated drive france wounded germany sent england recover recovered rejoined lines reassigned given battlefield commission second lieutenant april lieutenant command company 15th infantry regiment day led company advance germany single engaged german forces times unit passed city square german machine gun opened fire causing casualties rushed position killed gunners advancing ahead men came german patrol preparing use rocket launchers ambush american tanks attacked despite outnumbered killed patrol members machine gun opened fire close range picked dead man rifle killed man german crew april shot head bullet entered ear exited opposite cheek sent england eventually united_states time father wounded france evacuated united_states medal honor subsequently promoted captain august awarded medal honor recovering wounds continue receive treatment attended ceremony white house president formally presented medal addition medal honor received silver stars device purple hearts commenting medal honor citation speech later said lose courage times pray morning god strength courage right later life returned discharged army began business career worked briefly salesman oil company starting manufacturer representative business neighborhood involved operations medical center serving hospital board directors thirty years trustee helping obtain financial support hospital democrat supported political careers brother judge friend city politician dismissed suggestions run office married wallace great granddaughter 1950s children michael brother died federal judge connecticut gained prominence lawyer helping win convicted killing mother highly publicized case 1970s death burial died cancer home july funeral held july buried military honors 10th west point performed ceremony ceremony included round volley west_point sounding military helicopter flying cemetery awards decorations exact list authorized military awards recorded army unknown fire service records approximately million individuals military service records destroyed blaze consequence follows incomplete list military awards confirmed thought awarded medal honor captain official medal honor citation reads early morning april led company shell battered sniper infested wreckage germany fire caught unit exposed position ordered men cover forward bullets shot man continuing advance head company located enemy patrol armed rocket launchers threatened friendly armor went forward secured point opened fire germans immediately target concentrated machine pistol rocket fire rubble continued shoot patrol killed enemy continuing far company entered park men advanced german opened warning killed gunner completely exposed position directed fire remainder crew dead final duel wiped rifle fire range yards engaging single handed fire fights desperate armed enemy voluntarily taking major risks protecting men opportunity killed germans enemy wiped entire enemy patrol heroism lone bitter struggle enemy forces inspiration americans took honors medical center connecticut plans new emergency wing honor connecticut state representative proposed legislation section north bound south bound captain proposing bill representative said naming highway honor respected resident extraordinary service people united_states encourage legislature adopt proposal legislation house bill reads follows act renaming segment interstate route enacted senate house_of_representatives general_assembly convened segment north bound south bound renamed captain connecticut veterans inducted time living received medal honor veteran world war received extreme heroism leading infantry company shell battered sniper infested wreckage germany april following distinctive military service involved veterans community affairs serving founding hospital foundation provided decades volunteer service handicapped children town served member
Michael J. Daly