Victor H. Karpass
First Lieutenant, Medical Corps, U.S. Army

On 8 November 1942, First Lieutenant Victor H. Karpass was serving as a Medical Officer with the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division in the North African Theater of Operations.

On that day, 1LT Karpass’ unit was in action against German forces as part of the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa, in Operation Torch. 1LT Karpass was on a Coast Guard ship off the coast of Northwest Africa during his unit's amphibious landing. Although wounded, 1LT Karpass continued treating other wounded me until the ship sank. 1LT Karpass’ courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Victor H. Karpass (ASN: 0-336465), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Officer with the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 8 November 1942. First Lieutenant Karpass' intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Armored Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army-North African Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 42 (1943)

Memorialization

The remains of First Lieutenant Victor H. Karpass were never recovered. His memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56248089/victor-h-karpass