Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Stories of Sacrifice

or
  • Filter Recipient Database here
    • Service Branch
    • Conflict / Era
    • Additional Filters
      -  
    or

World War II - U.S. Marine Corps

Leonard Foster Mason

Details
  • Rank: Private First Class
  • Conflict/Era: World War II
  • Unit/Command:
    2d Battalion, 3d Marines,
    3d Marine Division
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: July 22, 1944
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an automatic rifleman serving with the 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands on 22 July 1944. Suddenly taken under fire by two enemy machine guns not more than 15 yards away while clearing out hostile positions holding up the advance of his platoon through a narrow gully, Pfc. Mason, alone and entirely on his own initiative, climbed out of the gully and moved parallel to it toward the rear of the enemy position. Although fired upon immediately by hostile riflemen from a higher position and wounded repeatedly in the arm and shoulder, Pfc. Mason grimly pressed forward and had just reached his objective when hit again by a burst of enemy machine-gun fire, causing a critical wound to which he later succumbed. With valiant disregard for his own peril, he persevered, clearing out the hostile position, killing five Japanese, wounding another, and then rejoining his platoon to report the results of his action before consenting to be evacuated. His exceptionally heroic act in the face of almost certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish its mission and reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Mason and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Medal of Honor Recipient Leonard F. Mason
Medal of Honor Recipient Leonard F. Mason
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Ohio
  • Awarded Posthumously: Yes
  • Presentation Date & Details: Navy Department, Washington, D.C. Presented by Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal to his mother Mrs. Hillery Mason
  • Born: February 2, 1920, Middlesboro, Bell County, KY, United States
  • Died: July 23, 1944, Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam
  • Buried: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl)(Wall of the Missing), Honolulu, HI, United States
 

Questions? For More Information Contact Us!