star; Croce al Merito di Guerra Commander's Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Yugoslavia French Fourragère Medal of Honor citations Navy citation: For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, during action in Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France, July 18, 1918. Sgt. Cukela advanced alone against an enemy strong point that was holding up his line. Disregarding the warnings of his comrades, he crawled out from the flank in the face of heavy fire and worked his way to the rear of the enemy position. Rushing a machine-gun emplacement, he killed or drove off the crew with his bayonet, bombed out the remaining part of the strong point with German hand grenades, and captured two machineguns and four men. Army citation: When his company, advancing through a wood, met with strong resistance from an enemy strong point, Sgt. Cukela crawled out from the flank and made his way toward the German lines in the face of heavy fire, disregarding the warnings of his comrades. He succeeded in getting behind the enemy position and rushed a machinegun emplacement, killing or driving off the crew with his bayonet. With German hand grenades he then bombed out the remaining portion of the strong point, capturing 4 men and 2 damaged machineguns. Personal life Cukela was married to Minnie Myrtle Strayer of Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, on December 22, 1923, in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Cukela died on August 10, 1956, just months after Major Cukela. At the time of his death, Major Cukela was also survived by a sister, Mrs. Zorka Cukela Dvoracek, of Šibenik, Croatia. See also List of Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I List of historic United States Marines References Inline General External links 1888 births 1956 deaths United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II American people of Croatian descent Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Civilian Conservation Corps people Foreign-born Medal of Honor recipients United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Recipients of the Order of the Yugoslav Crown Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the War Merit Cross (Italy) United States Marine Corps officers World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor Double Recipients of the Medal of Honor United States Army Medal of Honor recipients