Steve Kanalos

STEVE KANALOS
Technician 5th Grade
U. S. Army
World War II

Purple Heart

MEDALS-RIBBONS: Good Conduct, American Defense, European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign W/4 Stars

Steve landed at Normandy to fight across Europe to war's end in Battery B, 14th Field Artillery Observation Battalion.

Steve’s unit would go ahead of most major battles using Sonar, a new technology at the time to locate German gun installations. His unit would then radio the location coordinates so the German Guns could be knocked out thus saving thousands of American lives. The fact that his unit would go in close to the German line of defenses, the German Army considered these actions to be an act of Espionage and if captured every member of his unit were to be immediately executed and not taken as a prisoner. My dad accepted this risk and was willing to give up his life because he knew that his actions would be saving so many American lives with each gun emplacement that was knocked out. Steve Kanalos is a Purple Heart Recipient after being wounded in Germany towards the end of the war. Steve was always proud to say he was not a draftee but had enlisted willing to serve the country he loved with all his heart.

These two-family veterans and our family’s heroes are honored here today as Father and Daughter at this great memorial. Steve and Sharon also now have the distinction as the first Father and Daughter Veterans to be honored here at Mount Soledad.