5th Marine Division
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    • 5th Division History >
      • 1. Camp Pendleton
      • 2. Camp Tarawa
      • 3. Off To War
      • 4. Iwo Jima >
        • The Battle of Iwo Jima
        • D-Day to D+10
        • D+11 to D+20
        • D+21 to D+30
        • D+31 to D+35
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5th MARINE DIVISION
AWARDS & DECORATIONS



​Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. The medal is awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress to U.S. military personnel only. There are three versions of the medal, one for the Army, one for the Navy, and one for the Air Force. Personnel of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard receive the Navy version.
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Corporal Charles J. Berry
Private First Class William R. Caddy
Captain Robert H. Dunlap
Sergeant William G. Harrell
Platoon Sergeant Joseph R. Julian
Private First Class James D. LaBelle
Private First Class Jaclyn H. Lucas
1st Lieutenant Jack Lummus
1st Lieutenant Harry L. Martin
Private George Phillips
Private First Class Donald Ruhl

Private Franklin Sigler
Corporal Tony Stein
Gunnery Sergeant William Walsh


ATTACHED NAVY PERSONNEL
Pharmacist's Mate Second Class George Edward Wahlen
Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Jack Williams
Pharmacist's Mate First Class John Harlan Willis

* Names in italics indicate posthumous awards.


​Navy Cross

The Navy Cross is the second-highest military decoration for valor that may be awarded to a member of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, or U.S. Coast Guard (when operating under the Department of the Navy) for extraordinary heroism in combat. The Navy Cross is equivalent to the Army's Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force's Air Force Cross and the Coast Guard's Coast Guard Cross.
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Corporal Rondo G. Abel
Private First Class Daniel S. Albaugh
Sergeant Walter H. Allen
Private First Class Martin L. Anderberg
Major John W. Antonelli
Private First Class John B. Babich
Corporal Barnie O. Baggett
Corporal Raymond W. Bahring
Platoon Sergeant Paul Balducci
Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone

Private Calvin J. Bleau
Corporal Louis H. Boone, Jr.
Captain James C. Brennan
Lieutenant Colonel John A. Butler
Private First Class D. A. Carson
Private First Class Andrew J. Carter, Jr.
Captain Donald H. Castle
Private First Class Edward J. Coleman
1st Lieutenant Angelo M. Cona
Corporal Cleo S. Danford, Jr.
Corporal James H. Dixon
Private First Class James C. Donnelly
Captain Rae E. Duncan
Private Wesley Eagle
Corporal Charles R. Edgar

Private First Class Theodore O. Erickson
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Fagan
Sergeant Hubert J. Faltyn
2nd Lieutenant Byron E. Fisher
Corporal John G. Folsom
Assistant Cook Walter J. Fufidio

Sergeant Nolan M. Garrett
2nd Lieutenant Martin L. Gelshenen
Private First Class William A. Goff
Captain Philip R. Gray
First Sergeant Harold E. Harper
Private First Class Henry A. Harrison, Jr.
Brigadier General Leo D. Hermle
Corporal Nicolas Hernandez
Sergeant Raymond G. Hoffman

1st Lieutenant Thomas D. Hopkins, Jr.
Sergeant Donald L. Hull
Captain Charles J. Husey
Private First Class Paul L. Idoux

Corporal Ivan B. Iversen
Lieutenant Colonel Chandler W. Johnson
Private Harold B. Jones

2nd Lieutenant George C. Jovanovich
1st Lieutenant Jesse P. Julian
1st Lieutenant Frederick A. Kellogg
Private First Class C. J. Kelton
Private First Class Louis Komnenick
Sergeant Claude E. Lauderdale
Colonel Harry B. Liversedge
Private First Class William S. McCarver
Captain James S. McDermott

1st Lieutenant James J. McPoland
1st Lieutenant Thomas G. Mahoney
Sergeant John B. Makstutis
Private First Class Thomas J. Mayers
Private Max E. Melville
Captain Edward C. Nelson, Jr.
Private Frank L. Palmer
2nd Lieutenant Edward S. Pennell
Sergeant Harold G. Pierce
Sergeant James J. Powers
Sergeant Martin J. Queeney
Major Amedeo Rae
2nd Lieutenant Obert C. Richardson
Lieutenant Colonel Donn J. Robertson
Private First Class Raymond D. Rogers
Corporal James S. Ryan
Captain Charles S. Sands
Sergeant Merritt M. Savage
1st Lieutenant Cedric J. Scheibleman
Private First Class Donald E. Schmille
Corporal Conrad F. Shaker
Private Charles R. Shootman

Sergeant George H. Smallwood
Major Tolson A. Smoak
Private First Class Alfred J. St. Laurent
Private Oral L. Tankersly
Platoon Sergeant Clifton E. Taylor
Platoon Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas, Jr.
Sergeant Thorborn M. Thostenson

Corporal Harry Towne
Platoon Sergeant William T. Unger
1st Lieutenant William H. Van Beest
Platoon Sergeant William H. Van Dyke
Private Salvador Vargas
2nd Lieutenant Clair H. Voss
1st Lieutenant John K. Wells
Private First Class Jasper Willis

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​Distinguished
Service Medal

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The medal is presented to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service to the United States while serving in a duty or position of great responsibility.  The award is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal. The Navy Distinguished Service Medal was originally senior to the Navy Cross, until August 1942 when the precedence of the two decorations was reversed.

Major General Keller E. Rockey


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​Silver Star

The Silver Star, officially the Silver Star Medal, is the third-highest military decoration for valor awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. Any uniformed service member may receive the medal, which is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

340 Silver Stars awarded
79 posthumous


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​Legion of Merit

The Legion of Merit is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the seven uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.  The Legion of Merit is one of only two United States military decorations to be issued as a neck order (the other being the Medal of Honor) and the only United States military decoration which may be issued in award degrees (much like an order of chivalry or certain Orders of Merit).

Colonel John A. Bemis
Lieutenant Colonel James P. Berkeley
Colonel Benjamin W. Gally
Colonel Chester B. Graham
Colonel Lester S. Hamel
Colonel Earl S. Piper
Colonel Ray A. Robinson
Colonel James F. Shaw, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel Tom M. Trotti
Lieutenant Colonel Henry T. Waller
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel F. Zeiler

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​Distinguished

Flying Cross

The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States Armed Forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight."

1st Lieutenant Richard R. Barton
1st Lieutenant John W. Beckett, Jr.
1st Lieutenant Archibald A. Campbell
Captain Job C. Cook
2nd Lieutenant Leon W. Ellsworth
Captain William K. Gillespie 
1st Lieutenant Major D. Olmes, Jr.
2nd Lieutenant Guy M. Raines, Jr.
1st Lieutenant John F. Sutkus

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​Navy and
Marine Corps Medal

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism by the United States Department of the Navy to the members of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is generally considered the equivalent of the U.S. Army′s Soldier's Medal, the U.S. Air Force′s Airman's Medal, and the Coast Guard Medal.

Private Edwin A. Sawchuck
Private First Class John Veenstra
Sergeant Clinton A. Watters

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​Bronze Star

The Bronze Star, officially the Bronze Star Medal, is a United States decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Officers from the other Uniformed Services of the United States are eligible to receive this award, as are foreign soldiers who have served with or alongside a service branch of the United States Armed Forces.

738 Bronze Stars awarded
64 posthumous


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​AIR MEDAL

The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States Military.  The medal was created in 1942 and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.  During World War II the medal's award criteria varied widely depending on the theater of operations, the aircraft flown, and the missions accomplished.

1st Lieutenant Richard R. Barton
Major Raymond W. Dollins

2nd Lieutenant Leon W. Ellsworth
1st Lieutenant Major D. Olmes, Jr.
1st Lieutenant George C. Rangos
1st Lieutenant David Thompson, Jr.

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​LETTER OF
COMMENDATION
​WITH RIBBON

Known as the Letter of Commendation with Ribbon during World War II, the Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service.  For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star Medal, a Commendation Medal is awarded.  Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal. The Commendation Medal was originally only a service ribbon and was first awarded by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard in 1943.

95 Commendation medals awarded


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​purple heart

The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members.

9,925 purple hearts awarded
2,416 posthumous


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​navy PRESIDENTIAL
​UNIT CITATION

The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the United States Armed Forces, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the start of American involvement in World War II). The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign.

assault troops
V AMPHibious corps


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​navy unit
​COMMENDATION

The Navy Unit Commendation is a unit award of the United States Navy that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944. The ribbon is awarded by the Navy Secretary to any ship; aircraft wing, group, squadron, detachment or crew; or other unit of the United States Navy or Marine Corps which has since 6 December 1941 distinguished itself in action against the enemy with outstanding heroism but not sufficient to justify award of the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation.

support troops
v amphibious corps


  • HOME
  • WELCOME
    • About
    • What's New
  • HISTORY
    • 5th Division History >
      • 1. Camp Pendleton
      • 2. Camp Tarawa
      • 3. Off To War
      • 4. Iwo Jima >
        • The Battle of Iwo Jima
        • D-Day to D+10
        • D+11 to D+20
        • D+21 to D+30
        • D+31 to D+35
      • 5. The Price of Victory
      • 6. Return To Hawaii
      • 7. Occupation of Japan
      • 8. End of the Mission
    • Awards & Decorations
    • Monuments & Memorials
  • MEN
    • Great Uncle Bob >
      • Bob's Story
      • Photos of Bob
      • The Letters
      • Great Uncle Floyd
    • Legends
    • Tributes A - G
    • Tributes H - P
    • Tributes Q - Z
    • Paramarines
    • Flag Raisers
  • MEDIA
    • WWII Photo Gallery
    • WWII Unit Photos
    • Maps
    • Videos
    • Documents & Articles
    • Unique Finds
    • Memorabilia
    • The Spearhead
    • Books & Film
    • Uniforms & Equipment
    • Living History
    • Weapons
  • VIETNAM
    • Vietnam History >
      • Vietnam Overview
      • Con Thien
      • Operation Allen Brook
      • LZ Margo
    • Vietnam Legends
    • Vietnam Tributes
    • Vietnam Photo Gallery
    • Vietnam Books & Film
    • Vietnam Links
  • LINKS
  • Contact