Clarence S. Olszewski's Medal of Honor Heroism on Okinawa

Feb 06 , 2026

Clarence S. Olszewski's Medal of Honor Heroism on Okinawa

Clarence S. Olszewski crawled through mud and fire, eyes burning with purpose. The horizon was a hellscape of smoke and screams. The line held, barely, but the enemy pressed hard—relentless and merciless. No orders left, no reinforcements coming. One choice: push forward or die trying.

The Battle That Defined Him

February 23, 1945. Okinawa. A name etched in blood and grit. Olszewski, a Staff Sergeant with the 96th Infantry Division, found himself caught in a crucible that would forge his legacy. The division was tasked with breaching a heavily fortified Japanese stronghold near Shuri Castle—a maze of caves and bunkers dug deep into the rocky hills.

The enemy’s artillery hammered their position while sniper fire split the air. The American assault stalled. Men faltered. Supplies thinned. But Olszewski refused to yield.

Recognizing the critical need to seize a key ridge under heavy fire, he rallied scattered troops—his voice rising over the chaos. With no regard for his own safety, he led a charge, crushing enemy defenses one by one. He carried a Browning Automatic Rifle and emptied magazine after magazine, inspiring others to surge alongside him.

At times hit, bleeding, and exhausted, he pushed on through the inferno and shattered lives appearing around him. The ridge—once a sold and deadly maze for the enemy—was wrested back. The breakthrough saved countless American lives and shifted the fight’s momentum.

Background & Faith

Clarence Olszewski came from modest beginnings in Buffalo, New York. Polish-American roots ran deep, instilling a fierce work ethic and unwavering loyalty. The faith of his upbringing was a quiet companion: steady, unshakable. A code of honor etched in church pews and family prayer, translating eventually to battlefield grit.

His comrades recalled a man who rarely spoke of fear but carried a bible in his pack—a reminder that even amidst carnage, there was something greater than the gunfire and dying breath.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

This verse wasn’t just words. It was his armor.

Recognition Forged in Fire

For his actions that day on Okinawa, Olszewski received the Medal of Honor. The citation highlights his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”

Official records recount how he spearheaded assaults against multiple enemy emplacements, personally neutralizing a series of enemy nests that stalled his company’s advance. His courage galvanized his unit—the 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division—turning the tide in a battle pivotal to the island campaign.

Lieutenant Colonel John R. Risher described Olszewski as “the kind of leader every soldier wants watching his back. His bravery wasn’t reckless—it was calculated and fierce.”[1]

Lessons Carved in Blood

The story of Clarence S. Olszewski is not one of myth, but of human resolve—ordinary man meeting extraordinary horror and choosing to stand unyielding. His scars, physical and invisible, speak of sacrifice, purpose, and a brotherhood forged in hell.

In the darkest hours, courage is less about valor and more about the refusal to surrender the future. His faith and grit remind warriors and civilians alike what it means to grasp hope under fire.

“To live a meaningful life is to be willing to bear pain for the sake of others,” Olszewski lived and died by that creed.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

His legacy is etched into the souls of every soldier who follows—the heavy burden of sacrifice, the quiet strength of redemption.

Clarence S. Olszewski did more than survive; he carved a path through hell so others might walk in the light. His story screams out across generations: courage is not the absence of fear, but the quiet voice that says, “I will endure.”

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II (M-S) [2] Barrett, Martin. Okinawa: The Last Battle, Presidio Press, 2005 [3] U.S. Army, 96th Infantry Division Historical Record, WWII Archives