Sometimes the unlikeliest people are the most brave and courageous.
On this day, 81 years ago, on July 7, 1944, Captain Benjamin L. Salomon, age 29, was serving as the battalion surgeon with the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, during the Battle of Saipan in the Mariana Islands. His aid station was set up approximately 50 yards behind the front-line foxholes.
At around 0500 hours, a massive banzai charge was launched by approximately 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese troops against the American perimeter. Within moments, the forward positions were overwhelmed and the aid station began receiving wounded soldiers. As Salomon treated the injured, enemy soldiers began to breach the aid station. One Japanese soldier bayoneted a wounded American. Salomon grabbed a rifle and killed him. He then shot one and bayoneted another who had entered the tent. Four more enemy soldiers crawled under the walls. Salomon killed three using a rifle, bayonet, and hand-to-hand combat. The fourth was killed by a wounded American inside the tent.
Realizing the station would soon be overrun, Salomon ordered the wounded to be evacuated. He took a rifle and left the tent to cover their withdrawal. Outside, four machine gunners had already been killed near a .30 caliber M1917 Browning machine gun. Salomon took over the gun and began firing at the advancing enemy. He held his position under overwhelming fire to cover the retreat of the aid station personnel and the wounded.
When American forces retook the position days later, they found Salomon's body slumped over the machine gun. He had been shot or bayoneted 76 times, at least 24 of which were sustained while he was still alive. In front of his position were the bodies of 98 dead Japanese soldiers.
Captain Benjamin L. Salomon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on May 1, 2002. The award was delayed due to policy restrictions about medical personnel bearing arms in combat. After decades of review and advocacy, the medal was approved and presented by President George W. Bush. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
www.cmohs.org
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On this day, 81 years ago, on July 7, 1944, Captain Benjamin L. Salomon, age 29, was serving as the battalion surgeon with the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, during the Battle of Saipan in the Mariana Islands. His aid station was set up approximately 50 yards behind the front-line foxholes.
At around 0500 hours, a massive banzai charge was launched by approximately 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese troops against the American perimeter. Within moments, the forward positions were overwhelmed and the aid station began receiving wounded soldiers. As Salomon treated the injured, enemy soldiers began to breach the aid station. One Japanese soldier bayoneted a wounded American. Salomon grabbed a rifle and killed him. He then shot one and bayoneted another who had entered the tent. Four more enemy soldiers crawled under the walls. Salomon killed three using a rifle, bayonet, and hand-to-hand combat. The fourth was killed by a wounded American inside the tent.
Realizing the station would soon be overrun, Salomon ordered the wounded to be evacuated. He took a rifle and left the tent to cover their withdrawal. Outside, four machine gunners had already been killed near a .30 caliber M1917 Browning machine gun. Salomon took over the gun and began firing at the advancing enemy. He held his position under overwhelming fire to cover the retreat of the aid station personnel and the wounded.
When American forces retook the position days later, they found Salomon's body slumped over the machine gun. He had been shot or bayoneted 76 times, at least 24 of which were sustained while he was still alive. In front of his position were the bodies of 98 dead Japanese soldiers.
Captain Benjamin L. Salomon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on May 1, 2002. The award was delayed due to policy restrictions about medical personnel bearing arms in combat. After decades of review and advocacy, the medal was approved and presented by President George W. Bush. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Benjamin Louis Salomon | World War II | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient
U.S. Army Captain Benjamin Louis Salomon was posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for military valor during World War II.
www.cmohs.org
