Chip Cravaack: “About 450 U.S. soldiers, sailors, and pilots received the Nation's highest combat award during World War II. One of…”

“About 450 U.S. soldiers, sailors, and pilots received the Nation's highest combat award during World War II. One of these was a former soldier from West Duluth, who earned the medal during the closing days of the war. Michael Colalillo was born on December 1, 1925, in Hibbing, Minnesota, the son of an Italian immigrant father who worked in the iron mines. Michael was one of nine children, and at 18, he was drafted into the United States Army. On April 7, 1945, a month before the war in Europe ended, Colalillo's unit came under heavy fire in a small, rural town in Germany. Pinned on the ground, Colalillo and his fellow soldiers were in a death trap. Lying on the ground, bullets and shells flying everywhere, Colalillo decided something had to be done, and he was the guy who had to do it. Even though he was a private and not in command, Colalillo rose up and yelled to the other soldiers to follow his lead. Inspired by his confidence, the soldiers advanced in the face of savage enemy fire. When Colalillo stood up that fateful day, he marched forward into America's military history. Mr. Colalillo surged towards the Germans, firing his submachine gun until it was knocked from his hands by shrapnel. He then ran toward an American tank to take control of the machine gun mounted above its cannon turret. Bullets clanged off the tank's armor and zipped by his body as Mr. Colalillo responded to the onslaught of German enemy fire. ``It was a rough time and I was scared,'' Mr.…”