Anthony Stanich
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Anthony Stanich was inducted into the Army September 8, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Chisholm, Minnesota.
He served as a Private First Class and rifleman with the Antitank Company of the 142nd Infantry Regt. and Fifth Army in Naples-Foggia and Rome-Arno, Italy; Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.
He was awarded: Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with six bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, and four overseas service bars.
Mr. Stanich was honorably discharged August 31, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
From the Silver Star Medal citation in part: "For gallantry in action on February 12, 1944, in Italy, Company A, after first receiving an intensive enemy artillery and mortar barrage, was subjected to a strong enemy attack. Moving forward, PFC Stanish encountered an enemy machine gun position which he could not reach with hand grenades. Perceiving the hazard it presented to his unit, he made his way back to secure a rife, grenade launcher, and ammunition. Upon his own initiative he skillfully worked his way forward in the face of intense enemy small arms fire to a more advantageous point and fired two rounds into the enemy emplacement, completely destroying it."
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 305.
