- SURNAME
Atto
- FORENAME
Frederick Blake
- UNIT
1 Regiment (3 Company)
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
- DATE OF DEATH
22nd May 1944
- AGE
25
- GRAVESITE
Beach Head War Cemetery,Anzio,Italy XVII.E.12
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Canada
born 30.09.1919, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
son of Frederick Howard and Daisy Blake Atto, 274 Trenton Avenue, Mount Royal, Montreal, Quebec
brother of Clayton Howard Atto, died 22.5.1944 (same day) as Major, R.A.S.C. (GB), North Africa
occupation salesman / non-qualified mechanic
former 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars (June-July 1940)
enlisted 18.07.1940, Montreal, Quebec
award D.S.C. (US)
KIA Anzio, Italy
DATE OF DEATH:
22-May-1944AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/atto-frederick-blake.29173/CITATION:
Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant Frederick Blake Atto, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces on Mount La Difensa, Italy, on 6 December 1943. First Lieutenant Atto led a patrol of three men with a mission of destroying several isolated enemy machine guns, mortar emplacements, and snipers whose fire was causing heavy casualties in his unit. The patrol penetrated deep into enemy territory and neutralized several enemy positions, killing nine of the enemy and taking two prisoners. On the return trip First Lieutenant Atto and the two prisoners became separated from the remainder of the patrol. While proceeding alone with the prisoners, he was fired upon from an enemy position. Armed only with a pistol, he returned the fire and caused five more Germans to surrender to him. He be was forced to fire his remaining bullet to keep the prisoners in line. He brought the seven prisoners to his own lines although his only weapon was empty pistol. First Lieutenant Atto's courage and presence of mind in the face of overwhelming odds reflect highest credit upon himself and the two armies which he serves.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/17064https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2371556?Frederick%20Blake%20Atto
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56100291/frederick-blake-atto
Last edited by a moderator:
