Sanko, Joseph Daniel, LT

Lieutenant Sanko was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 653, aboard carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45). On May 13, 1952, while on a combat mission over north of Munchon, North Korea, his aircraft suffered a direct hit by a 37mm shell, lost its wing, crashed and burned. His remains were not recovered.

Service number: 407105

Silver Star citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Joseph Daniel Sanko (NSN: 0-407105), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in combat as a pilot of a fighter plane in Fighter Squadron SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE (VF-653), attached to U.S.S. VALLEY FORGE (CV-45), during action against enemy North Korean and Chinese Communist Forces over hostile North Korean territory on 13 May 1951. While carrying out a special interdiction mission against vital enemy locomotives located in the most heavily defended sections of Northeast Korea, Lieutenant Sanko, with a division of Corsairs, relentlessly pressed home repeated attacks in the face of a storm of heavy, medium, and light caliber anti-aircraft fire to destroy a locomotive, tender and sixteen boxcars, and severely damage a second locomotive in the vicinity of Hamhung. He continued his unrelenting pursuit of the enemy targets by flying low altitude through Kowon, an area normally prohibited to friendly aircraft because of the tremendous concentration of fire power, in his search for a reported train. Despite the fact that he was instructed by Commander Task Force 77 to proceed to the Munchon areas only at his own discretion because of the formidable array of anti-aircraft batteries surrounding that strategic location, he continued without hesitation to that village, and with his flight commenced an attack upon the train located there. During this coordinated attack upon the locomotive and the defending gun positions, Lieutenant Sanko, completely heedless of the vicious barrage of withering 37-mm. and 20-mm. fire, pressed home a ferocious and determined attack upon a battery of five 37-mm. weapons, to protect the other aircraft of the flight and enable them to carry out bombing assaults against the trains. Because of the tenacity and boldness of his attack, Lieutenant Sanko's aircraft was hit at a low altitude, causing the plane and pilot to crash into the ground. It was largely through Lieutenant Sanko's unselfish devotion to duty which caused him to press home his attack with such bold determination that he lost his life, that the enemy batteries were sufficiently suppressed to permit the flight to completely destroy one locomotive and tender and inflict severe damage upon a second. His intrepidity and gallant courage in the face of the gravest odds are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and his Nation for which he gave his life.
General Orders: Board Serial 771 (September 5, 1952)
Action Date: May 13, 1952
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Fighter Squadron 653 (VF-653)
Division: U.S.S. Valley Forge (CV-45)

Distinguished Flying Cross citation:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Joseph Daniel Sanko (NSN: 0-407105), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving in Squadron SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE (VF-653), embarked in U.S.S. VALLEY FORGE (CV-45), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 1 January 1952.

General Orders: All Hands (February 1953)
Action Date: January 1, 1952
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Fighter Squadron 653 (VF-653)
Division: U.S.S. Valley Forge (CV-45