Title
Recognizing and Honoring Corporal Michael Joseph Crescenz as the only Philadelphian to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service during the Vietnam War.
Body
WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Crescenz was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 14, 1949 in the West Oak Lane section of the City and graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1966; and
WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Crescenz enlisted in the United States Army in February 1968 and was sent to Vietnam in September 1968; and
WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Crescenz earned the rank of Corporal serving in the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade; and
WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Crescenz was one of 646 Philadelphians who served in the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Crescenz distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a rifleman with Company A. In the morning, his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the 2 point men, halting the advance of Company A. Immediately, Cpl. Crescenz left the relative safety of his own position, seized a nearby machine gun and, with complete disregard for his safety, charged 100 meters up a slope toward the enemy's bunkers which he effectively silenced, killing the 2 occupants of each. Undaunted by the withering machine gun fire around him, Cpl. Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third bunker which he also succeeded in silencing, killing 2 more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of advance for his comrades. Suddenly, intense machine gun fire erupted from an unseen, camouflaged bunker. Realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, Cpl. Crescenz disregarded the barrage of hostile fire directed at him and daringly advanced toward the position. Assaulting with his machine gun, Cpl. Crescenz was within 5 meters of the bunker when he was mortally wounded by the fire from...
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