Michael Valente

Michael Valente (February 5, 1895 – January 10, 1976) was an Italian-born American soldier who served the United States Army in World War I.

Born on February 5, 1895, in Sant'Apollinare ( Frosinone) Italy, Valente immigrated to the United States and joined the Army in 1917 from Ogdensburg, New York.

With another man, Valente voluntarily moved forward and silenced two machine gun nests, attacked a trench, and killed five Germans and captured 21 others before being wounded.

Over a decade later, on September 27, 1929, President Herbert C. Hoover awarded Valente the Medal of Honor during a ceremony on the White House lawn.

Citation: Finding the advance of his organization held up by a withering enemy machinegun fire, Private Valente volunteered to go forward.

Michael Valente, Co. D, 107th Inf., when this company's advance on the Knoll, in the Hindenburg Line near Ronssoy, September 29, 1918, was checked, went forward in utter disregard of personal danger to himself, and attacked two machine gun nests that were causing trouble.

Original caption: President Hoover presents Congressional Medal of Honor to World War hero. Michael Valente, formerly Private, Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division during the World War, receiving from President Hoover the Congressional Medal of Honor at the White House today. Valente receives the medal for bravery while in Hindenberg Line during the World War. He enlisted at Ogdensburg, N.Y., but is now a resident of Long Beach, N.Y.