PFC ANTON KRESTA JR. born in Praha July 25, 1923; killed in action on Luzon Feb. 12, 1945; marker in St. Mary's Cemetery, Praha.
Anton Kresta, Jr. was the youngest of twelve children of Anton Kresta, Sr. and Aneska Havel Kresta.
He joined the Army on February 25, 1943, and received training at Camp Wolters in Texas and Camp Ord in California.[1]
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with the following citation: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Anton Kresta, Jr. (ASN: 38454909), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Binuangan River, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 12 February 1945. Private Kresta, an automatic rifleman, crossed the Binuangan River, under heavy enemy fire, in the leading assault boat of the attack made by Company F, 145th Infantry. As he debarked on the far bank of the river, a heavy concentration of enemy mortar fire began falling on the beachhead area. Private Kresta volunteered to attempt to put the mortars out of action and crawled along a dike between fishponds to a position which afforded clear observation of the enemy, though itself, completely exposed. Under heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire, he succeeded in killing or routing all the Japanese manning the mortars, He was severely wounded during this action and died shortly afterward, but through his gallant and supreme sacrifice, he made possible a successful crossing of the river by his comrades-at-arms." [2]
Anton Kresta, Jr.'s was originally interred in United States Armed Forces Cemetery Manila #1, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in Plot 5, Roy 20, Grave No. 191. His body arrived at the Smith's funeral home in Moulton on Saturday, July 10, 1948, at 12:57pm.[3] Funeral services were held at the funeral home, and services continued at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Praha where Rev. Raska officiated. [4] He was laid to rest on July 12, 1945 at Praha Catholic Cemetery. [5]
[1] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=4455.339202686396&lon=1885.630181187893
[2] DSC Recommendation; DSC Award, https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/31683
[3] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=5276.672576709833&lon=1970.963677281643
[4] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=5276.672576709833&lon=1970.963677281643
[5] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=5276.672576709833&lon=1970.963677281643
Army Service No.(ASN): 38454909
PFC ANTON KRESTA JR. born in Praha July 25, 1923; killed in action on Luzon Feb. 12, 1945; marker in St. Mary's Cemetery, Praha.
Anton Kresta, Jr. was the youngest of twelve children of Anton Kresta, Sr. and Aneska Havel Kresta.
He joined the Army on February 25, 1943, and received training at Camp Wolters in Texas and Camp Ord in California.[1]
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with the following citation: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Anton Kresta, Jr. (ASN: 38454909), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Binuangan River, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 12 February 1945. Private Kresta, an automatic rifleman, crossed the Binuangan River, under heavy enemy fire, in the leading assault boat of the attack made by Company F, 145th Infantry. As he debarked on the far bank of the river, a heavy concentration of enemy mortar fire began falling on the beachhead area. Private Kresta volunteered to attempt to put the mortars out of action and crawled along a dike between fishponds to a position which afforded clear observation of the enemy, though itself, completely exposed. Under heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire, he succeeded in killing or routing all the Japanese manning the mortars, He was severely wounded during this action and died shortly afterward, but through his gallant and supreme sacrifice, he made possible a successful crossing of the river by his comrades-at-arms." [2]
Anton Kresta, Jr.'s was originally interred in United States Armed Forces Cemetery Manila #1, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in Plot 5, Roy 20, Grave No. 191. His body arrived at the Smith's funeral home in Moulton on Saturday, July 10, 1948, at 12:57pm.[3] Funeral services were held at the funeral home, and services continued at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Praha where Rev. Raska officiated. [4] He was laid to rest on July 12, 1945 at Praha Catholic Cemetery. [5]
[1] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=4455.339202686396&lon=1885.630181187893
[2] DSC Recommendation; DSC Award, https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/31683
[3] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=5276.672576709833&lon=1970.963677281643
[4] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=5276.672576709833&lon=1970.963677281643
[5] https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1179148/m1/3/zoom/?q=%22Anton%20Kresta%22&resolution=4&lat=5276.672576709833&lon=1970.963677281643
Army Service No.(ASN): 38454909
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