He was the recipient of two Navy Crosses, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.
In October of 1944, then 17-year old Wawrzyniak dropped out of high school and enlisted in the United States Navy in Buffalo, New York.
As the squad reached the top of the hill, Wawrzyniak single-handedly charged a position on the left flank.
Staff Sergeant Wawrzyniak then acquired a Browning Automatic Rifle and rejoined the squad in clearing out more enemy positions.
For his actions during the assault, Wawrzyniak was promoted to technical sergeant and was awarded his first Navy Cross.
[3] On April 16, 1952, Technical Sergeant Wawrzyniak was a member of an outpost which was attacked by a superior enemy force.
Under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, Technical Sergeant Wawrzyniak repeatedly led cut-off groups of Marines in the outpost back to the defensive perimeter he had established.
While at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after encouragement from Major General Randolph Pate.