On that day, during the Battle of Munda Point,[2] at Horseshoe Hill on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands, he provided aid to three wounded soldiers despite intense enemy fire.

Private First Class Petrarca's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty.

during an intense mortar barrage, went to the aid of his sergeant who had been partly buried in a foxhole under the debris of a shell explosion, dug him out, restored him to consciousness and caused his evacuation.

On 31 July 1943 and against the warning of a fellow soldier, he went to the aid of a mortar fragment casualty where his path over the crest of a hill exposed him to enemy observation from only 20 yards distance.

Even on the threshold of death he continued to display valor and contempt for the foe, raising himself to his knees, this intrepid soldier shouted defiance at the enemy, made a last attempt to reach his wounded comrade and fell in glorious death.The U.S. Army ship USAT Private Frank J. Petrarca which served in the Pacific Ocean at the end of World War II was named in his honor.