14APR1945: Pushing ahead in what would be the last major Allied offensive in Italy, PFC John Magrath and his unit were pinned down by multiple German defensive positions just outside of Castel d'Aiano. Armed with only a rifle, Magrath volunteered to assault the nearest bunker to buy his company room to maneuver. Charging through the gunfire, Magrath overran the position, killing two, wounding three and capturing a German machine gun. He then took the machine gun and moved over open terrain to engage and destroy two further machine gun positions. Continuing his one man assault, he identified a group of four enemy soldiers firing on his men. Working his way behind the group, he cut all four down in rapid bursts. From there, he was spotted by a final machine gun position. Kneeling and firing his machine gun, Magrath destroyed this final position as well before moving back to American lines. Having eliminated the forces that had kept them pinned down, Magrath and his company advanced forward. Soon, they came under a heavy artillery barrage and quickly began taking casualties. Again volunteering, Magrath ran into the storm of steel to collect casualties. While he was doing so, PFC John Magrath was hit by enemy fire and killed. For playing such a pivotal role in the battle that day, PFC John Magrath would be awarded, posthumously, the Medal of Honor.

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