| Mike Colalillo | |
| Birth Date: | 2 December 1925 |
| Birth Place: | Hibbing, Minnesota, US |
| Death Place: | Duluth, Minnesota, US |
| Placeofburial: | Forest Hill Cemetery, Duluth, Minnesota |
| Placeofburial Label: | Place of burial |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Rank: | Sergeant |
| Unit: | 1st Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart |
Michael Colalillo (December 2, 1925 – December 30, 2011) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decorationthe Medal of Honorfor his actions during World War II.[1]
Colalillo was born on December 1, 1925, in Hibbing, Minnesota to Italian parents who had immigrated to the U.S. shortly before his birth. Colalillo was the eighth of nine children. His family struggled financially throughout the years mainly due to the Great Depression. He grew up in a tough neighborhood in western Duluth, Minnesota. In his teenage years, Colalillo attended Denfeld High School but dropped out before graduating in order to help support his family by working at a local bakery after the passing of his mother.[2]
Colalillo joined the Army from Duluth, Minnesota in February 1944,[3] and was serving as a private first class in Company C, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, that was deployed in the Western Allied invasion of Germany. On April 7, 1945, his unit fought Waffen-SS forces in the Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher near Untergriesheim, Germany. Colalillo encouraged his comrades to follow him into enemy fire, manned an exposed machine gun, and helped a wounded soldier back to friendly lines. For his actions during the battle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 9, 1946.[4]
After his discharge from the Army, Colalillo moved back to Duluth, Minnesota, where he married Lina Nissila on November 16, 1945. The couple had two daughters and a son. In 1946, Colalillo was employed by the Interlake Iron Company as a coal dump laborer and in 1950 he suffered a serious injury when his hand was caught on a conveyor belt which caused permanent damage, making his hand nearly useless. After his injury, Colalillo worked as a longshoreman, and in 1987, he retired from the Duluth Port Authority.[2]
Colalillo died on December 30, 2011, at the Ecumen Bayshore Care Center. He is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth, Minnesota. He was Minnesota's last living Medal of Honor recipient.
SGT Colalillo was awarded throughout his military career the following:[2] [5]
| Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st row | Medal of Honor | Silver Star | ||||||||||
| 2nd row | Bronze Star | Purple Heart | Army Good Conduct Medal | |||||||||
| 3rd row | American Campaign Medal | European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal | |||||||||