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Ballplayers Decorated in Military Service

Medal of Honor (highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize
military service members who
distinguished themselves by acts of valor)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
1/Lt. Andrew J. "Jack" Lummus Outfield Minor League US Marine Corps Iwo Jima (March 8, 1945)
T/5 John J. "Joe" Pinder, Jr. Pitcher Minor League US Army Normandy (June 6, 1944)
Medal of Freedom (to honor civilians whose actions aided in the war efforts of the United States and its allies. )
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
n/a Morris "Moe" Berg Catcher Major League Office of Strategic Services Europe (1944)
 
Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Army
for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Cptn. Michael J. Auer Pitcher Minor League US Army France (January 1945)
Mjr. George T. Stallings, Jr. First Base Minor League US Army France (July 11, 1944)
Navy Cross (awarded primarily to a member of the United States Navy, U.S Marine Corps, and the US Coast Guard
(when operating under the Department of the Navy) for extraordinary heroism)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Lt Cdr Arnold C. Traxler Outfield Minor League US Navy Pacific (March 19, 1945)
Lt(jg) Thomas J. Woodruff Shortstop Minor League US Navy Pacific (October 24/25, 1944)
 
Distinguished Service Medal (presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military,
has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Lt(jg) Walter E. Shinn Outfield Minor League US Navy Pacific (1944)
Legion of Merit (given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
M/Sgt. Henry J "Zeke" Bonura  First Base Major League US Army North Africa
Mjr. Alfred H. "Fritz" Von Kolnitz Third Base Major League US Army Air Force Europe (1943)
Col. Richard T. “Dick” Aldworth Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force USA (1943)
CMoMM Spalding E. "Mike" Michot Catcher Minor League US Coast Guard Europe (1944)
Distinguished Flying Cross (awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States Armed Forces who distinguishes
himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Captain Gerald F. “Jerry” Coleman Second Base Major League US Marine Corps (2) Pacific (1945)
Captain John K. “Buddy” Lewis, Jr. 3B/Outfield Major League US Army Air Force China-Burma-India (1944)
Lt. James M. “Jake” Jones First Base Major League US Navy (2) Pacific (1944/1945)
1/Lt. Robert E. "Bert" Shepard Pitcher Major League US Army Air Force Europe (1945)
Ensign Constantine G. “Gus” Bebas Pitcher Minor League US Navy Battle of Midway (1942)
1/Lt. Keith F. Bissonnette Infield/Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force China-Burma-India
Major Bernard R. "Bernie" Byrne Second Base Minor League US Army Air Force Italy (1944)
Major Robert J. “Bobby” Byrne 3B/OF/2B Minor League US Army Air Force North Africa (1942/1943)
M/Sgt. John T. "Tex" Deets Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force (5) Europe (1943)
1/Lt. Michael Feduniak Catcher Minor League US Army Air Force (2) China-Burma-India
2/Lt. Victor F. Hoff Unknown Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1944)
1/Lt. William J. "Joe" Loadholtes Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1944)
2/Lt. James P. Martin Second Base Minor League US Army Air Force Pacific (1945)
Lt(jg) Walter E. Shinn Outfield Minor League US Navy Pacific (1944)
S/Sgt. Jack L. Shope Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1944)
Captain Marshall M. Sneed Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force North Africa (1943)
Major William H. "Billy" Southworth Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1943)
Colonel Robert W. "Bob" Stephens Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1943/1944)
Lt Cdr Arnold C. Traxler Outfield Minor League US Navy Pacific (1945)
1/Lt. Verne E. Williamson Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Italy
2/Lt. Stanford G. Wolfson OF/Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1944)
Lt(jg) Thomas J. Woodruff Shortstop Minor League US Navy Pacific (November 1944)
Soldier's Medal (awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished himself or herself
by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Cptn. Elmer J. Gedeon Outfield Major League US Army Air Force North Carolina (August 1942)
T/Sgt. Angelo P. DeLucia Infield Minor League US Army Air Force Pacific
Navy and Marine Corps Medal (highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism by the United States Department of the Navy to the
members of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
CMoMM Spalding E. "Mike" Michot Catcher Minor League US Coast Guard Europe (1944)
 
Silver Star (third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat, awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
T/Sgt. Nestor L. Chylak Jr. Umpire Major League US Army Europe (1945)
Sgt. William L. “Bill” Evans, Jr. Pitcher Major League US Army Germany (1945)
T/Sgt. Raymond A. Flanigan Pitcher Major League US Army Europe
Mjr. Ralph G. Houk  Catcher Major League US Army Germany (1945)
1/Lt. Earl D. “Lefty” Johnson Pitcher Major League US Army Battle of the Bulge (1944)
Lt. James M. “Jake” Jones First Base Major League US Navy Pacific (1944/1945)
Pfc. William J. “Bill” Moisan, Jr. Pitcher Major League US Army Germany (April 1945)
Sgt. Earl W. Rapp Outfield Major League US Army Germany (1945)
Pfc. William E. "Bill" Reeder Pitcher Major League US Army Okinawa (1945)
1/Lt. John S. “Jocko” Thompson Pitcher Major League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
Sgt. Sterling W. Arnold Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe
Cptn. Michael J. Auer Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe
Major Robert J. “Bobby” Byrne 3B/OF/2B Minor League US Army Air Force North Africa (1942/1943)
Cpl. Alexander Danelishen, Jr. Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
Unknown Alberto R. Esqueda Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1945)
Sgt. William P. "Bill" Fennhahn Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
Pfc. Otto E. Halvacs First Base Minor League US Army France (Jul '44)
S/Sgt. Kenneth A. Kallenberg Pitcher Minor League US Army Pacific
Mjr. George Kenmore Outfield Minor League US Army Tunisia (Mar '43)
T/Sgt. Donald E. Kirby C/OF Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1944)
Mjr. Charles A. Knoblauch Second Base Minor League US Army Pacific
2/Lt. Walter N. Lance First Base Minor League US Army Europe (1945)
Unknown Phillip G. Mazzeo Umpire Minor League US Army Air Force Italy
2/Lt. Loyd F. "Mickey" McGuire Third Base Minor League US Army Mediterranean (1943/1944)
CMoMM Spalding E. "Mike" Michot Catcher Minor League US Coast Guard Europe (1944)
2/Lt. Louis I. Miller Third base Minor League US Army Air Force Bismarck Sea (Mar '43)
S1c Frank L. Nelson Pitcher Minor League US Navy Pacific (October 1944)
S/Sgt. Peter J. Petropoulos Pitcher Minor League US Army France (June '44)
Cpl. Lee A. Porterfield Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe
S/Sgt. Milton “Rosey” Rosenstein Pitcher Minor League US Army Leyte (November 1944)
2/Lt. William A. Sarver Outfield Minor League US Army Germany (April 1945)
Captain Marshall M. Sneed Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force North Africa (1943)
Colonel Robert W. "Bob" Stephens Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1943/1944)
2/Lt. Robert W. Teeples Pitcher/SS Minor League US Army Pacific (1944)
T/5 Webster A. "Buck" Templeton  2B/Shortstop Minor League US Army North Africa (1943)
T/3 Joseph Vecchio Outfield Minor League US Army France (1944)
T/5 Richard L. "Dick" Williams Pitcher Minor League US Army The Philippines (1945)
2/Lt. John J. Zulberti Infield Minor League US Army Italy (1944)
Air Medal (awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Captain Gerald F. “Jerry” Coleman Second Base Major League US Marine Corps (7) Pacific (1945)
Lt. James M. “Jake” Jones First Base Major League US Navy (4) Pacific (1944/1945)
Captain John K. “Buddy” Lewis 3B/Outfield Major League US Army Air Force China-Burma-India (1944)
1/Lt. Robert E. "Bert" Shepard Pitcher Major League US Army Air Force Europe (1945)
1/Lt. Keith F. Bissonnette Infield/Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force (4) China-Burma-India
Major Bernard R. "Bernie" Byrne Second Base Minor League US Army Air Force (4) Italy (1944)
Major Robert J. “Bobby” Byrne 3B/OF/2B Minor League US Army Air Force North Africa (1942/1943)
Cptn. James E. Conlan  Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force (7) North Africa (1943)
S/Sgt. John T. DeJohn Second Base Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (Nov 1942)
1/Lt. Michael Feduniak Catcher Minor League US Army Air Force (3) China-Burma-India
S/Sgt. Eugene M. Fellmeth OF/First Base Minor League US Army Air Force Germany (Dec 1944)
2/Lt. George E. Gamble, Jr. Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force China-Burma-India (1944)
Unknown Telio P. Giammarco Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force (4) Europe
2/Lt. Victor F. Hoff Unknown Minor League US Army Air Force (4) Europe (1944)
1/Lt. Louis H. Janicek Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force (6) Europe
T/Sgt. Donald E. Kirby C/OF Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1944)
1/Lt. William J. "Joe" Loadholtes Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force (4) Europe (1944)
1/Lt. Walter G. Loos, Jr. Catcher Minor League US Army Air Force South America (1943/1944)
1/Lt. John T. "Jack" Moller Pitcher/OF Minor League US Army Air Force Pacific ('43)
2/Lt. Leslie L. Palmer Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force (2) Italy (1944)
S/Sgt. Jack E. Pinion Catcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1942)
T/Sgt. John J. Regan Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force China-Burma-India ('44)
Unknown Robert L. Rossier Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force Europe
Ensign Walter J. Schmisseur, Jr. Catcher Minor League US Navy Pacific (1944/1945)
2/Lt. Franklin C. Schulz Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Philippines ('45)
S/Sgt. Jack L. Shope Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force (4) Europe ('44)
S/Sgt. John M. "Mason" Smith Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe ('44)
Captain Marshall M. Sneed Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force North Africa (1943)
Major William H. "Billy" Southworth Outfield Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1943)
Colonel Robert W. "Bob" Stephens Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1943/1944)
1/Lt. Nicholas J. Thornton Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force  
Lt Cdr Arnold C. Traxler Outfield Minor League US Navy (4) Pacific (1945)
1/Lt. Verne E. Williamson Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Italy
2/Lt. Stanford G. Wolfson OF/Pitcher Minor League US Army Air Force Europe (1944)
Lt(jg) Thomas J. Woodruff Shortstop Minor League US Navy Pacific (November 1944)
Commendation Medal (presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Cmdr. George L. Earnshaw Pitcher Major League US Navy Pacific (April 1944)
Bronze Star (awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious
achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
Sgt. Clifford A. Aberson Outfield Major League US Army Europe (1945)
Sgt. Rex E. Barney Pitcher Major League US Army Europe (1945)
Lt. Frank C. Baumholtz Outfield Major League US Navy Pacific (1945)
Pfc. James N. Bivin Pitcher Major League US Marine Corps Pacific (1945)
Cpl. Leland V. “Lou” Brissie Pitcher Major League US Army Italy (1944)
Cmdr. George L. Earnshaw Pitcher Major League US Navy Pacific (1944/1945)
Sgt. William L. “Bill” Evans, Jr. Pitcher Major League US Army Germany (1945)
Sgt. Gilbert R. Hodges First Base Major League US Marine Corps Okinawa (1945)
Mjr. Ralph G. Houk  Catcher Major League US Army Germany (1945)
1/Lt. Earl D. “Lefty” Johnson Pitcher Major League US Army France (September 1944)
Pfc. Donald M. Kolloway Second Base Major League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
Pfc. Stanley E. Lopata Catcher Major League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
Unknown Robert A. "Maje" McDonnell Coach Major League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
Pfc. William J. “Bill” Moisan, Jr. Pitcher Major League US Army Europe (1945)
1/Sgt. Stephen Souchock First Base Major League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
1/Lt. John S. “Jocko” Thompson Pitcher Major League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
Sgt. Cecil H. Travis Shortstop Major League US Army Europe (1945)
Cpl. Kenneth W. Trinkle Pitcher Major League US Army Europe (1945)
Pfc. Harry W. Walker Outfield Major League US Army Europe (1945)
M/Sgt. Dick C. Whitman Outfield Major League US Army Europe (1945)
Pvt. Willard G. "Willie" Anderson Outfield Minor League US Army Europe (1945)
2/Lt. Orville G. Barr Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe
Pfc. George E. Bogovich Pitcher Minor League US Army Okinawa (1945)
Unknown Robert C. Boyce Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe
Unknown Stephen J. Bysco Pitcher Minor League US Army France (1945)
Unknown Alberto R. Esqueda Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1945)
Sgt. William P. "Bill" Fennhahn Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
T/Sgt. Frank D. Janik Catcher/Outfield Minor League US Army Saipan (1944)
S/Sgt. Kenneth A. Kallenberg Pitcher Minor League US Army Pacific
Mjr. Charles A. Knoblauch Second Base Minor League US Army Pacific
2/Lt. Walter N. Lance First Base Minor League US Army Europe (1945)
Cpl. Ferrell D. "Dee" Loveless Thid Base Minor League US Army Pacific (1944)
Cpl. Harold L. Martin Catcher/Outfield Minor League US Army North Africa (1943)
Cptn. Malvern C. Morgan Jr. 1B/Shortstop Minor League US Army Europe
Sgt. Felix J. Penso, Jr. OF/Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1944)
Unknown Earl M. "Pete" Petersen Catcher Minor League US Army Europe
S/Sgt. Peter J. Petropoulos Pitcher Minor League US Army France (June '44)
T/Sgt. Walter J. Plant Infield Minor League US Army Okinawa (1945)
Cpl. Lee A. Porterfield Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe
Unknown Joseph P. Quin, Jr.? Pitcher Minor League
R/1c Walter L. Rougeux Third Base Minor League US Navy Pacific (1945)
Pfc. Minor M. Scott Second Base Minor League US Army Okinawa (1945)
S/Sgt. Donald R. Shelton Pitcher Minor League US Army Italy (March 25, 1944)
T/5 Webster A. "Buck" Templeton  2B/Shortstop Minor League US Army Europe (1944)
Pvt. Robert L. “Bob” Vetter Pitcher Minor League US Army France (1944)
Unknown Chester J. Wasilewski Pitcher Minor League US Army Italy (April 1945)
Pfc. Melvin C. “Mel” Wasley Outfield Minor League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
 
Battlefield Commission (awarded to enlisted soldiers who are promoted to the rank of commissioned
officer for outstanding leadership on the field of battle)
Rank Name Position Level of Baseball Played Service Location/Date of Award
2/Lt. Raymond A. Flanigan Pitcher Major League US Army Europe (1944/1945)
1/Lt. Earl D. "Lefty" Johnson Pitcher Major League US Army Europe
1/Lt. John "Jack" Knott Pitcher Major League US Army Europe
2/Lt. Harold H. Rice Outfield Major League US Army Pacific (1944/1945)
1/Lt. Warren E. Spahn Pitcher Major League US Army Europe (1945)
Cptn. Michael J. Auer Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1945)
2/Lt. Robert W. Teeples Pitcher/SS Minor League US Army Pacific (1944)
2/Lt. Thomas E. Tucker Pitcher Minor League US Army Europe (1945)

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