Born: unknown
Died:
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (wounded), Iwo Jima (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations:
Purple Heart
with Gold Star
With Dog Company:
Michael Pitoniak, a heavy machine gunner, was one of the original members of Dog Company, 24th Marines. He served with the Second Machine Gun Platoon during the battle of Namur, and was transferred to Baker Company in March, 1944.
With Baker Company:
Pitoniak continued to serve as a gunner with Baker's machine gun platoon. He was wounded during the battle of Saipan on June 18, 1944, and was evacuated to a Navy hospital.
PFC Pitoniak rejoined the company in the fall of 1944, while they were preparing for the invasion of Iwo Jima. He fought there until March 4, 1945, when he was again wounded and retired from the front line.
Pitoniak never returned to combat. After the war, he rejoined his family in Pennsylvania - doubtless swapping stories with his brother Thomas, also a wounded veteran of the Corps.