|

|
CIVIL
WAR |
|
| William R.D.
Blackwood |
Joseph K. Corson |
Richard
Curran
|
Andrew
Davidson
|
Gabriel
Grant |
George E.
Ranney |
|
|
Jacob F.
Raub |
|
|
INDIAN
WARS |
| William C.
Bryan |
Oscar
Burkard |
Bernard J.D.
Irwin |
John O.
Skinner
|
Harry J.
Thompson |
Henry R.
Tilton |
| SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR |
| |
James Robb
Church |
|
| PHILIPPINE
INSURRECTION |
George W.
Mathews
|
George F.
Shiels
|
Paul F.
Straub |
| WORLD WAR
I |
|
| PFC Charles D.
Barger |
|
PFC Jesse N.
Funk |
| WORLD WAR
II |
PFC Desmond T.
Doss
|
PVT Harold A.
Garman
|
PFC Lloyd C.
Hawks*
|
CPL Thomas J.
Kelly
|
PVT William D.
McGee*
|
PFC Frederick C.
Murphy*
|
T4 Laverne
Parrish*
|
PFC Frank J.
Petrarca*
|
T5 Alfred L.
Wilson* |
| Hospital Apprentice
1st Class Robert E Bush |
Hospital Apprentice
1st Class Fred F Lester* |
Pharmacists Mate
3rd Class Jack Williams* |
| PFC Joseph
Cicchetti* |
Pharmacist Mate 1st
Class John Harlan Willis* |
Private Carlton
Barrett |
| Note: While Barrett
& Cicchetti were technically not medical personnel, they won there
medals while serving in that capacity. See the citations
below. |
| KOREAN
WAR |
SGT David B.
Bleak
|
PFC Richard G.
Wilson*
|
PFC Bryant E.
Womack* |
|
| VIETNAM |
| SGT Gary B.
Beikirch |
CPL Thomas W.
Bennett* |
SP4 Donald W. Evans,
Jr.* |
| SP5 Charles C.
Hagemeister |
SP5 Lawrence
Joael |
PFC Kenneth M.
Kays |
| SP4 Joseph G.
LaPointe, Jr.* |
SP4 Thomas J.
McMahon* |
SP5 Edgar L. McWethy,
Jr.* |
PFC James H.
Monroe*
|
SP5 Clarence E.
Sasser |
PFC Daniel J.
Shea |
| |
PFC David F.
Winder
|
|
|
* Posthumous
Award
|
         
WORLD WAR II MEDAL OF
HONOR RECIPIENTS
| BARRETT,
CARLTON W.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S.
Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near
St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered service at: Albany,
N.Y. Birth: Fulton, N.Y. G.O. No.: 78, 2 October 1944.
Citation: For
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty on 6 June 1944, in the vicinity of St. Laurent-sur-Mer,
France. On the morning of D-Day Pvt. Barrett, landing in the face of
extremely heavy enemy fire, was forced to wade ashore through neck deep
water. Disregarding the personal danger, he returned to the surf again and
again to assist his floundering comrades and save them from drowning.
Refusing to remain pinned down by the intense barrage of small arms and
mortar fire poured at the landing points, Pvt. Barrett, working with
fierce determination, saved many lives by carrying casualties to an
evacuation boat lying offshore. In addition to his assigned mission as
guide, he carried dispatches the length of the fire swept beach; he
assisted the wounded; he calmed the shocked; he arose as a leader in the
stress of the occasion. His coolness and his dauntless daring courage
while constantly risking his life during a period of many hours had an
inestimable effect on his comrades and is in keeping with the highest
traditions of the U.S. Army. |
| BUSH,
ROBERT EUGENE
Rank and organization: Hospital
Apprentice First Class, U.S. Naval Reserve, serving as Medical
Corpsman with a rifle company, 2nd Bn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
Place and date: Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu
Islands, 2 May 1945. Entered service at: Washington. Born: 4
October 1926, Tacoma, Wash.
Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty while serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle
company, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu
Islands, 2 May 1945. Fearlessly braving the fury of artillery, mortar, and
machine gun fire from strongly entrenched hostile positions, Bush
constantly and unhesitatingly moved from 1 casualty to another to attend
the wounded falling under the enemy's murderous barrages. As the attack
passed over a ridge top, Bush was advancing to administer blood plasma to
a marine officer lying wounded on the skyline when the Japanese launched a
savage counterattack. In this perilously exposed position, he resolutely
maintained the flow of life-giving plasma. With the bottle held high in 1
hand, Bush drew his pistol with the other and fired into the enemy's ranks
until his ammunition was expended. Quickly seizing a discarded carbine, he
trained his fire on the Japanese charging pointblank over the hill,
accounting for 6 of the enemy despite his own serious wounds and the loss
of 1 eye suffered during his desperate battle in defense of the helpless
man. With the hostile force finally routed, he calmly disregarded his own
critical condition to complete his mission, valiantly refusing medical
treatment for himself until his officer patient had been evacuated, and
collapsing only after attempting to walk to the battle aid station. His
daring initiative, great personal valor, and heroic spirit of
self-sacrifice in service of others reflect great credit upon Bush and
enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval
Service. |
| *CICCHETTI,
JOSEPH J.
Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry
Division.
Place and date: South Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands,
9 February 1945. Entered service at: Waynesburg, Ohio. Birth:
Waynesburg, Ohio. G.O. No.: 115, 8 December 1945.
Citation: He was with
troops assaulting the first important line of enemy defenses. The Japanese
had converted the partially destroyed Manila Gas Works and adjacent
buildings into a formidable system of mutually supporting strongpoints
from which they were concentrating machine gun, mortar, and heavy
artillery fire on the American forces. Casualties rapidly mounted, and the
medical aid men, finding it increasingly difficult to evacuate the
wounded, called for volunteer litter bearers. Pfc. Cicchetti immediately
responded, organized a litter team and skillfully led it for more than 4
hours in rescuing 14 wounded men, constantly passing back and forth over a
400 yard route which was the impact area for a tremendous volume of the
most intense enemy fire. On 1 return trip the path was blocked by machine
gun fire, but Pfc. Cicchetti deliberately exposed himself to draw the
automatic fire which he neutralized with his own rifle while ordering the
rest of the team to rush past to safety with the wounded. While gallantly
continuing his work, he noticed a group of wounded and helpless soldiers
some distance away and ran to their rescue although the enemy fire had
increased to new fury. As he approached the casualties, he was struck in
the head by a shell fragment, but with complete disregard for his gaping
wound he continued to his comrades, lifted 1 and carried him on his
shoulders 50 yards to safety. He then collapsed and died. By his skilled
leadership, indomitable will, and dauntless courage, Pfc. Cicchetti saved
the lives of many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his
own. |
| DOSS,
DESMOND T.
Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry
Division.
Place and date: Near Urasoe Mura, Okinawa, Ryukyu
Islands, 29 April-21 May 1945. Entered service at: Lynchburg, Va.
Birth: Lynchburg, Va. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November 1945.
Citation: He was a
company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400
feet high As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of
artillery, mortar and machine gun fire crashed into them, inflicting
approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused
to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken,
carrying them 1 by 1 to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them
on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands. On
2 May, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a
wounded man 200 yards forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and 2
days later he treated 4 men who had been cut down while assaulting a
strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within 8
yards of enemy forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrades'
wounds before making 4 separate trips under fire to evacuate them to
safety. On 5 May, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms
fire to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his
patient to a spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while
artillery and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered
plasma. Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from
a cave, Pfc. Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet from the
enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards to safety while
continually exposed to enemy fire. On 21 May, in a night attack on high
ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of his
company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would be
mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured until
he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion of a
grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own
injuries and waited 5 hours before litter bearers reached him and started
carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and
Pfc. Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the
litter; and directed the bearers to give their first attention to the
other man. Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, this
time suffering a compound fracture of 1 arm. With magnificent fortitude he
bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300
yards over rough terrain to the aid station. Through his outstanding
bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous
conditions Pfc. Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His name became a
symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far
above and beyond the call of duty. |
| GARMAN,
HAROLD A.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S.
Army, Company B, 5th Medical Battalion, 5th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Montereau, France, 25 August 1944.
Entered service at: Albion, Ill. Born: 26 February 1918, Fairfield,
Ill G.O. No.: 20, 29 March
1945. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty. On 25 August 1944, in the vicinity of Montereau,
France, the enemy was sharply contesting any enlargement of the bridgehead
which our forces had established on the northern bank of the Seine River
in this sector. Casualties were being evacuated to the southern shore in
assault boats paddled by litter bearers from a medical battalion. Pvt.
Garman, also a litter bearer in this battalion, was working on the
friendly shore carrying the wounded from the boats to waiting ambulances.
As 1 boatload of wounded reached midstream, a German machine gun suddenly
opened fire upon it from a commanding position on the northern bank 100
yards away. All of the men in the boat immediately took to the water
except 1 man who was so badly wounded he could not rise from his litter.
Two other patients who were unable to swim because of their wounds clung
to the sides of the boat. Seeing the extreme danger of these patients,
Pvt. Garman without a moment's hesitation plunged into the Seine. Swimming
directly into a hail of machine gun bullets, he rapidly reached the
assault boat and then while still under accurately aimed fire towed the
boat with great effort to the southern shore. This soldier's moving
heroism not only saved the lives of the three patients but so inspired his
comrades that additional assault boats were immediately procured and the
evacuation of the wounded resumed. Pvt. Garman's great courage and his
heroic devotion to the highest tenets of the Medical Corps may be written
with great pride in the annals of the corps. |
| HAWKS,
LLOYD C.
Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division.
Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 30 January
1944. Entered service at: Park Rapids, Minn. Born: 13 January 1911,
Becker, Minn G.O. No.: 5, 15 January 1945.
Citation: For
gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of
duty. On 30 January 1944, at 3 p.m., near Carano, Italy, Pfc. Hawks braved
an enemy counterattack in order to rescue 2 wounded men who, unable to
move, were lying in an exposed position within 30 yards of the enemy. Two
riflemen, attempting the rescue, had been forced to return to their
fighting holes by extremely severe enemy machine gun fire, after crawl ing
only 10 yards toward the casualties. An aid man, whom the enemy could
plainly identify as such, had been critically wounded in a similar
attempt. Pfc. Hawks, nevertheless, crawled 50 yards through a veritable
hail of ma-chine gun bullets and flying mortar fragments to a small ditch,
administered first aid to his fellow aid man who had sought cover therein,
and continued toward the 2 wounded men 50 yards distant. An enemy machine
gun bullet penetrated his helmet, knocking it from his head, momentarily
stunning him. Thirteen bullets passed through his helmet as it lay on the
ground within 6 inches of his body. Pfc. Hawks, crawled to the casualties,
administered first aid to the more seriously wounded man and dragged him
to a covered position 25 yards distant. Despite continuous automatic fire
from positions only 30 yards away and shells which exploded within 25
yards, Pfc. Hawks re-turned to the second man and administered first aid
to him. As he raised him-self to obtain bandages from his medical kit his
right hip was shattered by a burst of machine gun fire and a second burst
splintered his left forearm. Dis-playing dogged determination and extreme
self-control, Pfc. Hawks, despite severe pain and his dangling left arm,
completed the task of bandaging the remaining casualty and with superhuman
effort dragged him to the same de-pression to which he had brought the
first man. Finding insufficient cover for 3 men at this point, Pfc. Hawks
crawled 75 yards in an effort to regain his company, reaching the ditch in
which his fellow aid man was lying. |
| KELLY,
THOMAS J.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S.
Army, Medical Detachment, 48th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored
Division.
Place and date: Alemert, Germany, 5 April
1945. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Birth: Brooklyn, N.Y. G.O.
No.: 97, 1 November
1945. Citation: He was
an aid man with the 1st Platoon of Company C during an attack on the town
of Alemert, Germany. The platoon, committed in a flanking maneuver, had
advanced down a small, open valley overlooked by wooded slopes hiding
enemy machine guns and tanks, when the attack was stopped by murderous
fire that inflicted heavy casualties in the American ranks. Ordered to
withdraw, Cpl. Kelly reached safety with uninjured remnants of the unit,
but, on realizing the extent of casualties suffered by the platoon,
voluntarily retraced his steps and began evacuating his comrades under
direct machine gun fire. He was forced to crawl, dragging the injured
behind him for most of the 300 yards separating the exposed area from a
place of comparative safety. Two other volunteers who attempted to
negotiate the hazardous route with him were mortally wounded, but he kept
on with his herculean task after dressing their wounds and carrying them
to friendly hands. In all, he made 10 separate trips through the brutal
fire, each time bringing out a man from the death trap. Seven more
casualties who were able to crawl by themselves he guided and encouraged
in escaping from the hail of fire. After he had completed his heroic,
self-imposed task and was near collapse from fatigue, he refused to leave
his platoon until the attack had been resumed and the objective taken.
Cpl. Kelly's gallantry and intrepidity in the face of seemingly certain
death saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and was an example of
bravery under fire. |
|
*LESTER, FRED FAULKNER
Rank and organization: Hospital Apprentice
First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 29 April 1926, Downers Grove, Ill.
Accredited to:
Illinois. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with an
Assault Rifle Platoon, attached to the 1st Battalion, 22d Marines, 6th
Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa
Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 8 June 1945. Quick to spot a wounded marine
Iying in an open field beyond the front lines following the relentless
assault against a strategic Japanese hill position, Lester unhesitatingly
crawled toward the casualty under a concentrated barrage from hostile
machine guns, rifles, and grenades. Torn by enemy rifle bullets as he
inched forward, he stoically disregarded the mounting fury of Japanese
fire and his own pain to pull the wounded man toward a covered position.
Struck by enemy fire a second time before he reached cover, he exerted
tremendous effort and succeeded in pulling his comrade to safety where,
too seriously wounded himself to administer aid, he instructed 2 of his
squad in proper medical treatment of the rescued marine. Realizing that
his own wounds were fatal, he staunchly refused medical attention for
himself and, gathering his fast-waning strength with calm determination,
coolly and expertly directed his men in the treatment of 2 other wounded
marines, succumbing shortly thereafter. Completely selfless in his concern
for the welfare of his fighting comrades, Lester, by his indomitable
spirit, outstanding valor, and competent direction of others, had saved
the life of 1 who otherwise must have perished and had contributed to the
safety of countless others. Lester's fortitude in the face of certain
death sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval
Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. |
| *McGEE,WILLIAM D.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S.
Army, Medical Detachment, 304th Infantry, 76th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Mulheim, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered
service at: Indianapolis, Ind. Birth: Indianapolis, Ind. G.O. No.: 21, 26
February
1946. Citation: A
medical aid man, he made a night crossing of the Moselle River with troops
endeavoring to capture the town of Mulheim. The enemy had retreated in the
sector where the assault boats landed, but had left the shore heavily
strewn with antipersonnel mines. Two men of the first wave attempting to
work their way forward detonated mines which wounded them seriously,
leaving them bleeding and in great pain beyond the reach of their
comrades. Entirely on his own initiative, Pvt. McGee entered the
minefield, brought out 1 of the injured to comparative safety, and had
returned to rescue the second victim when he stepped on a mine and was
severely wounded in the resulting explosion. Although suffering intensely
and bleeding profusely, he shouted orders that none of his comrades was to
risk his life by entering the death-sown field to render first aid that
might have saved his life. In making the supreme sacrifice, Pvt. McGee
demonstrated a concern for the well-being of his fellow soldiers that
transcended all considerations for his own safety and a gallantry in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service. |
| *MURPHY, FREDERICK C.
Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 259th Infantry, 65th Infantry
Division.
Place and date: Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany,
18 March 1945. Entered service at: Weymouth, Mass. Birth: Boston, Mass.
G.O. No.: 21, 26 February
1946. Citation: An aid
man, he was wounded in the right shoulder soon after his comrades had
jumped off in a dawn attack 18 March 1945, against the Siegfried Line at
Saarlautern, Germany. He refused to withdraw for treatment and continued
forward, administering first aid under heavy machine gun, mortar, and
artillery fire. When the company ran into a thickly sown antipersonnel
minefield and began to suffer more and more casualties, he continued to
disregard his own wound and unhesitatingly braved the danger of exploding
mines, moving about through heavy fire and helping the injured until he
stepped on a mine which severed one of his feet. In spite of his grievous
wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and
crawling from man to man administering to them while in great pain and
bleeding profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he
had dragged himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty.
With indomitable courage, and unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifice and
supreme devotion to duty which made it possible for him to continue
performing his tasks while barely able to move, Pfc. Murphy saved many of
his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life |
| *PARRISH, LAVERNE
Rank and organization: Technician 4th
Grade, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 161st Infantry, 25th Infantry
Division .
Place and date: Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands,
18_24 January 1945. Entered service at: Ronan, Mont. Birth: Knox City, Mo.
G.O. No.: 55, 13 July
1945. Citation: He was
medical aid man with Company C during the fighting in Binalonan, Luzon,
Philippine Islands. On the 18th, he observed 2 wounded men under enemy
fire and immediately went to their rescue. After moving 1 to cover, he
crossed 25 yards of open ground to administer aid to the second. In the
early hours of the 24th, his company, crossing an open field near San
Manuel, encountered intense enemy fire and was ordered to withdraw to the
cover of a ditch. While treating the casualties, Technician Parrish
observed 2 wounded still in the field. Without hesitation he left the
ditch, crawled forward under enemy fire, and in 2 successive trips brought
both men to safety. He next administered aid to 12 casualties in the same
field, crossing and re-crossing the open area raked by hostile fire.
Making successive trips, he then brought 3 wounded in to cover. After
treating nearly all of the 37 casualties suffered by his company, he was
mortally wounded by mortar fire, and shortly after was killed. The
indomitable spirit, intrepidity, and gallantry of Technician Parrish saved
many lives at the cost of his own. |
| *PETRARCA, FRANK J.
Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 145th Infantry, 37th Infantry
Division.
Place and date: At Horseshoe Hill, New Georgia, Solomon
Islands, 27 July 1943. Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio. Birth:
Cleveland, Ohio. G.O. No.: 86, 23 December
1943. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call
of duty. Pfc. Petrarca advanced with the leading troop element to within
100 yards of the enemy fortifications where mortar and small arms fire
caused a number of casualties. Singling out the most seriously wounded, he
worked his way to the aid of Pfc. Scott, Iying within 75 yards of the
enemy, whose wounds were so serious that he could not even be moved out of
the direct line of fire Pfc Petrarca fearlessly administered first aid to
Pfc. Scott and 2 other soldiers and shielded the former until his death.
On 29 July 1943, Pfc. Petrarca. during an intense mortar barrage, went to
the aid of his sergeant who had been partly buried in a foxhole under the
debris of a shell explosion, dug him out, restored him to consciousness
and caused his evacuation. On 31 July 1943 and against the warning of a
fellow soldier, he went to the aid of a mortar fragment casualty where his
path over the crest of a hill exposed him to enemy observation from only
20 yards distance. A target for intense knee mortar and automatic fire, he
resolutely worked his way to within 2 yards of his objective where he was
mortally wounded by hostile mortar fire. Even on the threshold of death he
continued to display valor and contempt for the foe, raising himself to
his knees, this intrepid soldier shouted defiance at the enemy, made a
last attempt to reach his wounded comrade and fell in glorious
death. |
| *WILLIAMS, JACK
Rank and organization: Pharmacist's Mate
Third Class, U.S. Naval Reserve.
Born: 18 October 1924, Harrison,
Ark. Accredited to: Arkansas.
Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion 28th Marines,
5th Marine Division, during the occupation of Iwo Jima Volcano Islands, 3
March 1945. Gallantly going forward on the front lines under intense enemy
small arms fire to assist a marine wounded in a fierce grenade battle,
Williams dragged the man to a shallow depression and was kneeling, using
his own body as a screen from the sustained fire as he administered first
aid, when struck in the abdomen and groin 3 times by hostile rifle fire.
Momentarily stunned, he quickly recovered and completed his ministration
before applying battle dressings to his own multiple wounds. Unmindful of
his own urgent need for medical attention, he remained in the perilous
fire-swept area to care for another marine casualty. Heroically completing
his task despite pain and profuse bleeding, he then endeavored to make his
way to the rear in search of adequate aid for himself when struck down by
a Japanese sniper bullet which caused his collapse. Succumbing later as a
result of his self-sacrificing service to others, Williams, by his
courageous determination, unwavering fortitude and valiant performance of
duty, served as an inspiring example of heroism, in keeping with the
highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life
for his country. |
| *WILLIS, JOHN HARLAN
Rank and organization: Pharmacist's Mate
First Class, U.S. Navy.
Born: 10 June 1921, Columbia, Tenn.
Accredited to: Tennessee.
Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty as Platoon Corpsman serving with the 3d Battalion,
27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, during operations against enemy
Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 28 February 1945. Constantly
imperiled by artillery and mortar fire from strong and mutually supporting
pillboxes and caves studding Hill 362 in the enemy's cross-island
defenses, Willis resolutely administered first aid to the many marines
wounded during the furious close in fighting until he himself was struck
by shrapnel and was ordered back to the battle aid station. Without
waiting for official medical release, he quickly returned to his company
and, during a savage hand-to-hand enemy counterattack, daringly advanced
to the extreme front lines under mortar and sniper fire to aid a marine
Iying wounded in a shell hole. Completely unmindful of his own danger as
the Japanese intensified their attack, Willis calmly continued to
administer blood plasma to his patient, promptly returning the first
hostile grenade which landed in the shell hole while he was working and
hurling back 7 more in quick succession before the ninth 1 exploded in his
hand and instantly killed him. By his great personal valor in saving
others at the sacrifice of his own life, he inspired his companions,
although terrifically outnumbered, to launch a fiercely determined attack
and repulse the enemy force. His exceptional fortitude and courage in the
performance of duty reflect the highest credit upon Willis and the U.S.
Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his
country. |
| *WILSON, ALFRED L.
Rank and organization: Technician Fifth
Grade, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 328th Infantry, 26th Infantry
Division.
Place and date: Near Bezange la Petite, France, 8
November 1944. Entered service at: Fairchance, Pa. Birth: Fairchance, Pa.
G.O. No.: 47, 18 June 1945.
Citation: He
volunteered to assist as an aid man a company other than his own, which
was suffering casualties from constant artillery fire. He administered to
the wounded and returned to his own company when a shellburst injured a
number of its men. While treating his comrades he was seriously wounded,
but refused to be evacuated by litter bearers sent to relieve him. In
spite of great pain and loss of blood, he continued to administer first
aid until he was too weak to stand. Crawling from 1 patient to another, he
continued his work until excessive loss of blood prevented him from
moving. He then verbally directed unskilled enlisted men in continuing the
first aid for the wounded. Still refusing assistance himself, he remained
to instruct others in dressing the wounds of his comrades until he was
unable to speak above a whisper and finally lapsed into unconsciousness.
The effects of his injury later caused his death. By steadfastly remaining
at the scene without regard for his own safety, Cpl. Wilson through
distinguished devotion to duty and personal sacrifice helped to save the
lives of at least 10 wounded men. |
.
|