City of Philadelphia - File #: 160316

• File #: 160316
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 4/14/2016
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 4/14/2016
• Title: Commemorating the unveiling of a statue of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz, Philadelphia's only Medal of Honor Recipient of the Vietnam War, at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Taubenberger, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Green

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
4/14/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
4/14/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Commemorating the unveiling of a statue of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz, Philadelphia's only Medal of Honor Recipient of the Vietnam War, at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

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. He earned the rank of Corporal, serving in the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade. Cpl. Crescenz was one of 646 Philadelphians who served in the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, On November 20, 1968, Cpl. Crescenz was killed in action near Hiep Duc, Vietnam. That 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 the enemy machine gun. As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was able to maneuver...