6th Marine Division
Marine and Naval Corpsmen
Medal of Honor Recipients

Corporal Richard E. Bush, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. Severely wounded while leading the first squad to penetrate the Mt. Yae Take inner defenses, he was evacuated to a nearby aid station. When an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the wounded men, he unhesitatingly pulled it to his body to protect his comrades from serious injury or death. (16 April 1945)

Major Henry A. Courtney, Jr., 2d Battalion, 22d Marines. Gallantly leading by personal example, he inspired a small group of men from his unit to assault and capture the crest of Sugar Loaf Hill. He continued to lead attacks against the superior enemy defending forces until killed by a hostile mortar burst (14-15 May 1945)

Private First Class Harold Gonsalves, 4th Battalion, 15th Marines. After repeatedly braving terrific enemy bombardment to aid his forward observation team, he dived on an enemy grenade which landed in its midst, sacrificing his own chances of survival to protect his fellow Marines. (15 April 1945)

Private Robert M. McTureous, Jr., 3d Battalion, 29th Marines. When machine-gun fire suddenly assailed stretcher bearers evacuating his unit's wounded, he made two one-man grenade assaults on the enemy gun positions. Although seriously wounded, he stoically crawled 200 yards to shelter before calling for aid. (7 June 1945)

Hospital Apprentice First Class Fred F. Lester, 1st Battalion, 22d Marines. He was hit while going to the aid of a wounded man. Although he was again wounded dragging his patient to safety, he directed the administration of proper medical treatment to several men, steadfastly refusing aid for his own wounds which he realized were fatal. (8 June 1945)

General James L. Day enlisted in the Marine Corps early in World War II, and by the Okinawa Campaign he was a nineteen-year-old Corporal serving in the 6th Marine Division. From the 14th to the 17th of May he and his squad stood firm on the Shuri Castle line, holding back numerous assaults by Japanese troops. When relieved, only he and one other Marine were still able to fight, but the line had held, and hundreds of enemy troops lay dead. For his actions during that period, he was awarded the nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor. However, the recommendation was lost and the medal was not awarded until some fifty-two years later after General Day had retired from active duty.

Cpl. Anthony P. Damato while not with the 6th Marine Division, he was a member of one of our regiments (the 22nd) when he received his Medal of Honor.

Killed in action Feb. 19, 1944 Engebi Island Marshall Islands. When one of the enemy approached his foxhole and threw a hand grenade, Cpl. Damato groped for the grenade in the dark, he then unhesitatingly flung himself on the grenade and was instantly killed. He saved the lives of his two comrades who were with him.