Pfc. John D. Magrath

U.S. Army — World War II
July 4, 1924 – April 14, 1945
Hometown: East Norwalk, Connecticut

A Soldier’s Purpose

Private First Class John D. Magrath served with Company G, 85th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division during World War II.

He was part of a unit built for the toughest terrain—mountains, cold, and combat that demanded both endurance and courage.

The Final Mission

On April 14, 1945, near Castel d’Aiano, Italy, his company was pinned down by intense enemy fire from fortified positions.

The advance had stalled.

The situation was critical.

Magrath stepped forward.

One Soldier Against the Fight

He charged through heavy fire and captured an enemy machine gun
Turned it on the enemy, destroying multiple positions
Advanced alone across open ground under artillery and mortar fire
Continued the assault, breaking the enemy’s defensive line

Even after securing ground, he volunteered again—moving forward through heavy shelling to assess casualties.

He never returned.

Courage That Carried the Day

Magrath’s actions were not a single moment—but a chain of fearless decisions made under fire.

He didn’t wait.
He didn’t hesitate.
He drove the fight forward until the mission was complete.

Decorations & Honors

Medal of Honor • Bronze Star • Purple Heart

(Awarded posthumously for his actions on April 14, 1945.)

Pfc. John D. Magrath became the first 10th Mountain Division soldier to receive the Medal of Honor when he was posthumously awarded the Nation’s highest military honor for his actions on 14 April 1945 while serving with Company G, 85th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, near the town of Castel d’Aiano, Italy. His citation reads,

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when his company was pinned down by heavy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, near Castel d’Aiano, Italy. Volunteering to act as a scout, armed with only a rifle, he charged headlong into withering fire, killing two Germans and wounding three in order to capture a machine gun. Carrying this weapon across an open field through heavy fire, he neutralized two more machine-gun nests; he then circled behind four other Germans, killing them with a burst as they were firing on his company. Spotting another dangerous enemy position to his right, he knelt with the machine gun in his arms and exchanged fire with the Germans until he had killed two and wounded three. The enemy now poured increased mortar and artillery fire on the company’s newly won position. Pfc. Magrath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the shelling in order to collect a report of casualties. Heroically carrying out this task, he made the supreme sacrifice—a climax to the valor and courage that are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Final Resting Place

Pfc. John D. Magrath rests with honor at Riverside Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut.

Reflection

One soldier stepped forward… and the battle changed.

Pfc. Magrath didn’t just hold the line.

He broke it.

mickyspano.com and The Micky Spano Show proudly honor Private First Class John D. Magrath, United States Army, as Veteran of the Day for April 13, 2026, remembering his courage, his sacrifice, and the legacy he left on the battlefield in Italy.

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