About 450 U.S. soldiers, sailors and pilots received the nation's highest combat award during World War II.

One of them was a former soldier from West Duluth, who earned the medal during the closing days of the war.

Michael Colalillo was born on Dec. 1, 1925, in Hibbing, Minn., 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 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, Colallilo and his fellow soldiers were in a deathtrap.
Lying on the ground, bullets and shells flying everywhere, Colalillo decided something had to be done.

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 American military history.

Mr. Colalillo surged toward 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 German onslaught.

"It was a rough time, and I was scared," Mr. Colalillo said, "but I had to do what I had to do."

Mr. Colalillo blasted at one enemy position "with such devastating accuracy," the Medal of Honor citation read, that he killed or wounded 25 German soldiers and silenced a machine gun nest.

After his gun jammed, Mr. Colalillo dismounted from the tank and grabbed a submachine gun to continue his assault on foot.

When ordered to withdraw, Mr. Colalillo stayed behind to carry a wounded soldier over his shoulder through open terrain while artillery and mortar rounds pulverized the ground around him.

A few weeks later, he was approached by two military police officers who escorted him to a nearby headquarters. He was informed that the tank's commander had nominated him for the Medal of Honor, which he received in December 1945 at a White House ceremony.

In an interview in 2008 with the 100th Infantry Division Association newsletter, Colalillo recalled that "the good Lord was with me" during that battle.

"I could see our guys getting shot. ... I could see the muzzle flashes of the Germans shooting at us, and I aimed at them."

Mr. Colalillo died Dec. 30 at a nursing facility in Duluth, Minn. He was 86 years old.

Mr. Colallilo is survived by his son, Al, of Hayward, Wisconsin, and his daughter, Michele, of Meadowlands, Minnesota.

In Minnesota, we have a track record of military excellence. According to The Medal of Honor Society, 46 Minnesotans have received our highest award for bravery.

And in the 8th District, we honor those who have served.

For Michael Colalillo, the Medal of Honor Park in Duluth bears his name. We are forever grateful for his service to this country.

Thank you, Mr. Colalillo.

You make us all proud to be Americans.  May God’s peace be with you.