Frank J. Gendusa
Private First Class, U.S. Army

On 1 September 1951, Private First Class Frank J. Gendusa was serving as an Assistant Automatic Rifleman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and his unit was engaged with enemy forces at Mandae-ri, North Korea. Company B launched an assault on a heavily defended, enemy-held hill that day and PFC Gendusa's squad came under fire from two enemy snipers that pinned the unit down. He charged the sniper's position with grenades, destroying it, and killing the two snipers. He also killed two other enemy soldiers that jumped from behind cover and fired on him. Returning to the foxhole in which he and several comrades had taken cover from the enemy fire, he began to prepare them to resume the advance when he was mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. PFC Gendusa's courageous actions inspired his comrades and made it possible for the attack to move forward and for the mission to be achieved. PFC Gendusa's heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Frank J. Gendusa (ASN: US-54032485), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Private First Class Gendusa distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Mandae-ri, Korea, on 1 September 1951. On that date, Company B launched an assault on a heavily defended, enemy-held hill. The squad in which Private Gendusa was an assistant automatic rifleman came under fire from two concealed enemy snipers which pinned the unit down. Without hesitation, he voluntarily charged forward, storming the sniper's position with grenades, destroying it, and killing two enemy soldiers who had pinned down his squad. While eliminating the enemy snipers, he also killed two other enemy soldiers who jumped from behind cover and fired on him. Returning to the foxhole in which he and several comrades had taken cover from the enemy fire, he proceeded to reorganize and prepare them to resume the advance when he was mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. His unhesitating and courageous actions were an inspiration to his comrades and made it possible for the attack to move forward again and for the mission to be successfully accomplished.

General Orders: Department of the Army: General Orders No. 12 (January 22, 1953)

Burial

Private First Class Frank J. Gendusa is buried at Garden Of Memories in Metairie, Jefferson Parish, LA, in Section I.

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