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Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Stories of Sacrifice

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World War II - U.S. Army

James Marion Logan

Details
  • Rank: Sergeant (Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant)
  • Conflict/Era: World War II
  • Unit/Command:
    1st Platoon, Company I, 3d Battalion, 141st Infantry,
    36th Infantry Division
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: September 9, 1943
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: near Salerno, Italy
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict on 9 September 1943 in the vicinity of Salerno, Italy. As a rifleman of an infantry company, Sgt. Logan landed with the first wave of the assault echelon on the beaches of the Gulf of Salerno, and after his company had advanced 800 yards inland and taken positions along the forward bank of an irrigation canal, the enemy began a serious counterattack from positions along a rock wall which ran parallel with the canal about 200 yards further inland. Voluntarily exposing himself to the fire of a machine gun located along the rock wall, which sprayed the ground so close to him that he was splattered with dirt and rocks and splinters from the impact of the bullets, Sgt. Logan killed the first three Germans as they came through a gap in the wall. He then attacked the machine gun. As he dashed across the 200 yards of exposed terrain a withering stream of fire followed his advance. Reaching the wall, he crawled along the base, within easy reach of the enemy crouched along the opposite side, until he reached the gun. Jumping up, he shot the two gunners down, hurdled the wall, and seized the gun. Swinging it around, he immediately opened fire on the enemy with the remaining ammunition, raking their flight and inflicting further casualties on them as they fled. After smashing the machine gun over the rocks, Sgt. Logan captured an enemy officer and private who were attempting to sneak away. Later in the morning, Sgt. Logan went after a sniper hidden in a house about 150 yards from the company. Again the intrepid Sergeant ran a gauntlet of fire to reach his objective. Shooting the lock off the door, Sgt. Logan kicked it in and shot the sniper who had just reached the bottom of the stairs. The conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity which characterized Sgt. Logan's exploits proved a constant inspiration to all the men of his company, and aided materially in insuring the success of the beachhead at Salerno.
Medal of Honor Recipient James M. Logan
Medal of Honor Recipient James M. Logan
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Luling, Caldwell County, Texas
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Presentation Date & Details: June 6, 1944
    near Naples, Italy, presented by Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch III
  • Born: December 19, 1920, McNeil, Travis County, TX, United States
  • Died: October 9, 1999, Longview, TX, United States
  • Buried: Texas State Cemetery (MH) (4-C-11) , Austin, TX, United States
  • Location of Medal: Texas State Cemetery (office) (duplicate Medal), Austin, TX
 

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