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Citations / Awards

The Sixth Marine Division received the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest division award possible. Also received (for their battles in Guam) the Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.

Medals marked with a "*" courtesy of www.gruntsmilitary.com. Many thanks for allowing usage of their graphics.


A military decoration is not something hung on a Christmas tree or squirted on a birthday cake. It is an acknowledgement of a heroic act in a dangerous situation. It might have been Napoleon who said that men will risk their lives for a scrap of colored cloth. Whoever said that was wrong. Men don't fight with the expectation of receiving a medal. A man will perform in dangerous situations out of a sense of duty or because he cares what his comrades might think of him if he acts otherwise, the result of being in a military unit with high esprit de corps. He might fight merely for self preservation.

There is no bravery unless fear is present. Fearlessness is not bravery. Bravery is the overcoming of fear while attempting to do what is necessary or expected. Decorations are awarded to those men who perform at a level above and beyond that which is expected.

A decoration is usually in the form of a medal, but can also be a ribbon bar or a badge. A medal is a medallion suspended by a ribbon that has a distinctive pattern of colors, usually vertical stripes. A ribbon bar can be used to represent a medal, but can also be a stand alone award. Badges are medallions without cloth. They can be such that the badge itself fastens directly to the uniform, or the medallion can hang from a metal suspension bar fastened to the uniform.

Every medal is not a decoration. Men who served with the Sixth Marine Division are entitled, for example, to the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal and the World War Two Victory medal. These are service awards, "been there" medals and not decorations. The decorations for valor that a Sixth Division Marine or Corpsman could be awarded ranged from the Medal of Honor down to the Navy Letter of Commendation. The lowest decoration in 1945 was the Purple Heart medal, which was usually but not always, awarded to men who were wounded in action.

All medals have ribbon bars that can be worn in lieu of the medals. An example of a ribbon bar that stands alone as an award is the Presidential Unit Citation. That ribbon can be worn by every man who served in the Sixth Marine Division on Okinawa. The requirements for that award are that the unit as a whole performed at a level of valor which would have merited an award of the Navy Cross medal to an individual.

Examples of badges are the marksmanship awards that every Marine recruit has had the opportunity to qualify for. The service rifles have changed over the years, but the highest award of an Expert Rifleman badge is usually earned by about 15 percent of the recruits.

One of the officers in the Sixth Marine Division, Lt. Col. Larson, was entitled to wear both the Distinguished Marksman badge and the Distinguished Pistol Shot badge. These are gold badges, awarded for exceptional skill with the service rifle or the service pistol in special shooting competitions.
Since 1900 up to the present day, Distinguished Rifle and Distinguished Pistol badges have each been earned by several thousand Marines. A smaller number of Marines have been, like Col. Larson, awarded both badges.

Since World War Two the U. S. Army has awarded two different kinds of badges for combat service. These are the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Combat Medic's Badge, awarded to soldiers who have served in combat in front line infantry companies. A badge recently adopted by the Army is awarded to soldiers who are not assigned to front line units, but whose duties have put them in harm's way.

In the 1960s the Navy created an award similar to the Combat Infantryman's Badge, in the form of a ribbon bar only award, called the Combat Action Ribbon. Marines and sailors who served in front line units in combat were eligible for this award, which was made retroactive to the year 1961. In the 1990s it was decided that sailors and Marines had actually served in combat prior to 1961. The Award of the Combat Action Ribbon was made retroactive to the year 1941. Many Marines and Corpsmen who served in the Sixth Marine Division on Okinawa are eligible for this award.

The HISTORY OF THE SIXTH MARINE DIVISION, the book with a green cover that was published in 1948, lists about 700 awards for valor, from the Medal of Honor on down, to men of the Sixth Marine Division for the battle of Okinawa. Additional awards were made after the information was gathered for the book, but fewer than 800 decorations for bravery were awarded. That comparatively low number was for an entire Marine division in a battle where the fighting was as fierce as any in World War Two.

Sixth Marine Division men received more than their share of one decoration and that was the Purple Heart medal. Almost 7000 Marines and Corpsmen received that medal. In the Sixth Marine Division the Purple Heart medal was awarded only for wounds received in action from enemy fire. A high school and college classmate of mine, a member of a rifle company in the Army's 96th Infantry Division and a stalwart warrior, received his second Purple Heart medal for a sprained ankle, incurred while successfully eluding bullets fired from a Japanese Nambu machine gun.

Not all wounds merited the Purple Heart. To be awarded a Purple Heart medal a wounded Marine had to spend at least one night in either an aid station or a hospital and be treated by a medical officer. Men whose wounds were treated by a corpsman but not by a medical officer did not qualify for the medal. One man in G Company of the 29th Marines was wounded six times, but was awarded only two Purple Heart medals. Five Marines in G Company who returned from the hospital after being wounded were later killed in action. Eight men were wounded severely enough to merit a Purple Heart, spent time in the Sixth Medical Battalion Hospital on Okinawa, returned to duty and were wounded again. Another man returned from the hospital twice after being wounded, but was evacuated after being wounded for a third time. G Company had 63 Marines killed in action and 224 who received Purple Heart medals for being wounded in action. Every rifle company in the Sixth Marine Division had similar numbers.

One reason so few decorations for valor were awarded was due to the strict requirements of the Marine Corps for awarding them. A Marine's actions had to stand out above those of the rest of his comrades, difficult to do in outstanding units. Another reason was the result of the high number of casualties. Acts of valor must have had witnesses who were available to recommend decorations -- men still with their units after the battle was over who had survived without being killed or evacuated from the island after being wounded.

An example of this is what happened to Corporal James Day. In May of 1945 Day occupied a shell hole located close to a hill which was later known as Sugar Loaf. The men with Day with one exception were all wounded or killed. During his time in the shell hole, Day was mainly alone, the one man who was with him part of the time laid in the bottom of the hole, violently ill with dengue fever. That man was killed later in the battle. The location of the hole was such that it could not be fired on directly from Sugar Loaf. The Japanese had to make frontal assaults on the hole. Even after being wounded, Corporal Day fought off attacks for several days and nights. When he was finally relieved, the bodies of 70 dead Japanese were counted in the proximity of the hole.

Day's battalion commander was killed. His company commander was wounded and evacuated from the island. No action was taken to decorate Corporal Day for his heroic actions during those days and nights in the shell hole.

After the death of Day's former company commander on Okinawa, the son of the company commander found some documents among his father's effects that described Day's heroism. Upon learning that Day had never been decorated for those actions, the son began a campaign to get Day a medal. Ten men who had observed various parts of Day's heroism had made statements, copies of which were found with their service records. Finally, in January of 1998, almost 53 years later, Day, now a retired Marine major general, received our nation's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, from the president of the United States. General Day died less than a year later.

The battle for the Island of Okinawa was a long one, lasting for 82 days. Acts of heroism usually were not recorded immediately after they occurred and many of those acts were forgotten. There was never a system in place that sought out individuals who had observed acts of heroism.

A man leaving a relatively safe location to advance toward a place where a determined enemy might be waiting to attempt to kill him was being brave in the extreme. But medals were not awarded for that kind of bravery.

And so it was that in a battle with such hard fighting, so few decorations for valor were awarded to members of the Sixth Marine Division.


James S. White, G-3-29

MEDAL OF HONOR (NAVY):

Awarded to officers and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps who whall have distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict with the enemy.
View list of MOH winners of 6th Marine Division.

NAVY CROSS:

Awarded to officers and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps who distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.


DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL:

Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Marine Corps, shall have distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations agains an armed enemy. Awarded for combat only.

SILVER STAR MEDAL:

Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Marine Corps, had distinguished himself by gallantry in action not warranting the award of the medal of honor or distinguished cross, and to any person who while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Marine Corpts, received a citation for gallantry in action published in orders issued at the headquarters of a force commanded by a general officer. Awarded for combat action only.

LEGION OF MERIT:

Awarded to officers and enlisted men of the armed forces of the United States and friendly foreign nations who since the presidential proclamation of national emergency for World War II, 8 Setp. 1939, whall have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. Awarded for combat and non-combat action.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS:

(Identical for all branches of the Service) The DFC was the first American Military personal decoration authorized in identical design and ribbon for issuance by all branched of the military service. Awarded to Officers and enlisted men of the Armed Forces of the United States who have distinguished themselves, subsequent to 11 Nov 1918, by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.
Awarded for combat and non-combat action.

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL:

Awarded to any person, who, wile serving in the capacity with he United States Navy or Marine Corps, including Reserves, shall have, since 6 Dec 1941, distinguished himself of herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy, or to any person to whom the Secretary of the Navy has heretofore awarded a Letter of Commendation for heroism not involving Combat, regardless of date of such an act of heroism, who makes application for such medal. Awarded Non Combat Action only.

BRONZE STAR MEDAL:

Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with (identical for all branches of the service) the U.S. Marine Corps has distinguished himself by gallantry in action not warranting the Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross, and to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Marine Corps received a citation for gallantry in action published in orders issued at the headquarters of a force commanded by a general officer.

AIR MEDAL:

(Identical for all branches of the Service) Awarded to any person who while serving with the Armed Forces of the United States, in any capacity, subsequent to 8 Sep 1939, distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight. Awarded to combat and non-combat action.

PURPLE HEART:

(Identical for all branches of the service). Awarded to any person wounded in action against an enemy of the United States, or as a result of act of such enemy, if wound necessitated treatment by a Medical Officer. Also awarded posthumously to the next of kin of service personnel killed in action or who die as a result of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States, or as a result of an act of such enemy after 5 April 1917.

NAVY COMMENDATION RIBBON:

Awarded to Officers and enlisted men of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard who received an individual Letter of Commendation signed by the Secretary of Navy, Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet or Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, for an act of heroism or service per-formed between 6 Dec 1941 and 11 Jan 19 1944 are automatic-ally authorized to wer the Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant. All personnnel of the above services who subsequently receive such a commendation signed by the Secretary of the Navy or authorities so designated by the Secretary of the Navy during War or Emergency are authorized to wear the Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant provided such letter of commendation contains in the text such authorization, signify-ing the desire of the issuing officer to accord this privilege. A second and each succeeding award shall be presented by the wearing of a 3/16 inch bronze star on the ribbon an suspension ribbon of the Pendant. Combat or Noncombat.

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION:

Awarded to any ship, aircraft or Naval unit or any Marine Corps Aircraft, detachment or higher unit by the Secretary of the Navy in the name of the President for outstanding performance in action against an enemy of the United States on or after 16 Oct 1941. Such service must be comparable to that for which a Navy Cross is awarded to an individual.

NAVY UNIT COMMENTATION:

Awarded to any ship, aircraft, detachment or other unit in the Naval service of the United States which has, subsequent to 6 Dec 1941, distinguished itself by outstanding heroism in action against the enemy but not sufficiently to justify award of the Presidential Unit Citation; or to be awarded to any similar unit which has distinguished iself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of military operations and such as to render the unit outstanding compared to similar units rendering similar service.

ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON:

Awarded to Officers and enlisted men of the Armed Forces of the United States who, during the period 7 DEC 1941 and 2 Mar 1946, shall have served on active duty in the prescribed Asiatic-Pacific area under any one of certain specified conditions and/or aboard certain snips of the Army or Navy. A small bronze star is authorized to be attached to the ribbon for each battle which the wearer has participated therein.

*

CHINA SERVICE MEDAL:

Awarded to Officers and enlisted men of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in operations in China between 2 Sep 1945 and 1 April 1957.

 

CHINESE GOVERNMENT MEDAL WWII:

Awarded by the Chinese Gov't to all members of the Armed Forces of the Allied Forces who participated in the war with Japan and were involved in operations on the mainland of China, the islands, and or contiguous ocean areas during WWII and or the occupation of China and the surrender of enemy forces after World War II.

*

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL:

Japan between 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952 in the four main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu; the surrounding smaller islands of the Japanese homeland; the Ryukyu Islands; and the Bonin-Volcano Islands. Service between 3 September 1945 and 2 March 1946 will counted only if the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for service prior to 3 September 1945.

*

VICTORY MEDAL WWII:

Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the Government of the Philippine Islands who served on active duty in World War II at any time between 7 DEC 1941 and 31 DEC 1946 both dates inclusive.

*

AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL:

Awarded to personnel for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions:

  1. On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States

  2. Permanently assigned as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 days of 60 nonconsecutive days.

  3. Permanently assigned as a member of an operating crew of an airplane actually making regular and frequenet flights over ocean waters for a period of 30 days.

  4. Outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days of 60 days not consecutive.

  5. In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that he actually participated in combat.

  6. Winting the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of one year.

*

GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL:

Awarded to Enlisted men of the Marine Corps, regular or reserve, for obedience, sobriety, military efficiency, neatness, bearing and intelligence. Through the years numerous revisions have been made in the regulations governing the award, the following information being the last revision to become effective. For completion of 3 years of continuous active service terminating on or after 10 DEC 1945, including service in temporary warrant or commissioned status. A good conduct award shall be authorized for any 3 years' enlisted service consisting of a combination of periods of active service, broken or unbroken, in a war, national emergency or a period of armed hostilities, in which the United States is engaged, notwithstanding the time elapsing between tours of such service, provided the individual is otherwise qualified, and provide further that when the first period of such service terminated prior to 10 DEC 1945, a total of four years enlisted service shall be required for such award.

*

COMBAT ACTION RIBBON:

The Combat Action Ribbon was established on February 17, 1969 by Secretary of the Navy John H. Chafee and announced by SECNA VNOTE 1650 of February 17, 1969. the Annual Defence Authorization Bill (Public Law 106-65) signed into law by President Clinton on October 5, 1999, authorized the Secretary of the Navy to award the Combat Action Ribbon to members of the Navy or marine Corps who participated in combat during any period after December 6, 1941. It originally took effect on March 1, 1961; hoewever, with the passage of Public Law 106-65 (cited above), award of the Combat Action Ribbon may now be made retroactive to December 7, 1941. It is a personal decoration awarded to members of the Navy, marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain (or colonel in the Marine Corps) and below who have actively participated in ground or surface combat.

   

Contact Information
Bill Pierce
PR Chairman
(Weapons Co., 29th Marines - 6th USMC Div.)
gyrene629@aol.com

[See full Association contact list]


To Subscribe: Box 1775 - Quantico, VA 22134 (1-800-336-0291) or click here

 

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