List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Iwo Jima

The Battle of Iwo Jima took place in February and March 1945 during World War II. Some of the fiercest fighting of the war happened during this battle. The American invasion was called Operation Detachment. It was charged with capturing the airfields on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima.

The Imperial Japanese Army positions on the island were heavily fortified. There were vast bunkers with hidden artillery. It had 18 kilometers (11 mi) of tunnels. The battle was the first American attack on the Japanese Home Islands. The Imperial soldiers defended their positions tenaciously. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers present at the beginning of the battle, over 20,000 were killed. Only 216 were taken prisoner.

The battle lasted 2 months. After the battle 27 U.S. military personnel received the Medal of Honor for their actions. Of the 27 medals presented, 22 were presented to Marines. Five were presented to United States Navy sailors. A full 30% of the 82 Medals of Honor presented to Marines in World War II were from this battle.^[1]

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War. It is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented after the recipient is killed (posthumously).^[2]

Recipients

  This with the  † indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously

Image	Name	Service	Rank	Date of action	Unit	Notes
	Charles J. Berry †	Marine Corps	E-04Corporal	March 3, 1945	05-26-011st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	The Erie Avenue Bridge in Lorain, Ohio was renamed in 1988 to the Charles Berry Bridge in honor of Cpl Berry, a native son of the city.
	William R. Caddy †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-02Private First Class	March 3, 1945	05-26-03-ICompany I, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Sacrificed his life to save the lives of his platoon leader and platoon sergeant
	Justice M. Chambers	Marine Corps Reserve	O-05Lieutenant Colonel	01945-02-19February 19–22, 1945	04-25-033d Assault Battalion Landing Team, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division	Led the 8-hour battle to carry the flanking ridge top and reduce the enemy's fields of aimed fire, thus protecting the vital foothold gained
	Darrell S. Cole †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-05Sergeant	February 19, 1945	04-23-01-BCompany B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division	Namesake of USS Cole (DDG-67)
	Robert H. Dunlap	Marine Corps Reserve	O-03Captain	01945-02-20February 20–21, 1945	05-26-01-CCompany C, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Risked his life to gather intelligence about and direct fire on, enemy gun positions
—	Ross F. Gray †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-05Sergeant	February 21, 1945	04-25-01-ACompany A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division	Single-handedly overcame a strong enemy garrison and completely disarmed a large mine field before finally rejoining his unit.
—	William G. Harrell	Marine Corps	E-05Sergeant	March 3, 1945	05-28-01-ACompany A, 1st Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Risked his life to defend his position against a larger enemy force
	Rufus G. Herring	USNR	O-02Lieutenant, Junior Grade	February 17, 1945	USS LCI(G)-449	Maintained position in the firing line with his 20-mm guns in action in the face of sustained enemy fire and conned his crippled ship to safety
	Douglas T. Jacobson	Marine Corps Reserve	E-02Private First Class	February 26, 1945	04-23-033rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division	Risked his life by destroying a total of sixteen enemy positions and approximately seventy-five Japanese
—	Joseph R. Julian †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-06Platoon Sergeant	March 9, 1945	05-27-011st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Sacrificed his life to eliminate an enemy threat
—	James D. La Belle †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-02Private First Class	March 8, 1945	05-27-WWeapons Company, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Sacrificed his life to save a group of his fellow Marines by diving on a grenade
—	John H. Leims	Marine Corps Reserve	O-01Second Lieutenant	March 7, 1945	03-09-01-BCompany B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division	Risked his life to rescue several wounded Marines
	Jacklyn Harrell Lucas	Marine Corps Reserve	E-02Private First Class	February 20, 1945	05-26-011st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Covered two Japanese grenades with his body. Survived the blast of the one that exploded. Youngest recipient since the Civil War (turned 17 just 5 days before Iwo Jima D-Day)
—	Jack Lummus †	Marine Corps Reserve	O-02First Lieutenant	March 8, 1945	05-27-022nd Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Had earlier played football for the New York Giants
	Harry L. Martin †	Marine Corps Reserve	O-02First Lieutenant	March 26, 1945	05-5P-CCompany C, 5th Pioneer Battalion, 5th Marine Division	Sacrificed his life to help rescue some of his men who had been overrun by the enemy.
—	Joseph J. McCarthy	Marine Corps Reserve	O-03Captain	February 21, 1945	04-24-022nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division	Risked his life to eliminate several enemy troops so his men could move forward
—	George Phillips †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-01Private	March 14, 1945	05-28-022nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Sacrificed his life to save the lives of fellow Marines
—	Francis J. Pierce	Navy	E-06Pharmacist's Mate First Class	01945-03-15March 15–16, 1945	04-24-022nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division	Risked his life to save several wounded servicemembers and volunteered for a mission to eliminate an enemy threat
—	Donald J. Ruhl †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-02Private First Class	01945-02-19February 19–21, 1945	05-28-02-ECompany E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Saved several of his fellow Marines by sacrificing his life and diving on an enemy grenade
—	Franklin E. Sigler	Marine Corps Reserve	E-01Private	March 14, 1945	05-26-022nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Led a charge against an enemy gun installation which had held up the advance of his company for several days
—	Tony Stein †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-04Corporal	February 19, 1945	05-28-01Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	First Medal of Honor of Iwo Jima. Namesake of USS Stein (FF-1065)
	George E. Wahlen	Navy	E-05Pharmacist's Mate Second Class	March 3, 1945	05-26-022nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Although seriously wounded he risked his life to save the lives of several other servicemembers
—	William G. Walsh †	Marine Corps Reserve	E-07Gunnery Sergeant	February 27, 1945	05-27-03-GCompany G, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Sacrificed his life to save a group of fellow Marines
—	Wilson D. Watson	Marine Corps Reserve	E-01Private	01945-02-26February 26–27, 1945	03-09-022nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division	Risked his life fighting the enemy single-handedly for 15 minutes until his platoon could catch up to him
—	Hershel W. Williams	Marine Corps Reserve	E-04Corporal	February 23, 1945	03-21-011st Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division	Risked his life attacking the enemy for 4 hours to minimize unit casualties
	Jack Williams †	USNR	E-04Pharmacist's Mate Third Class	March 3, 1945	05-28-033rd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Killed while performing first aid to a wounded Marine
	John H. Willis †	Navy	E-06Pharmacist's Mate First Class	February 28, 1945	05-27-033rd Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division	Killed by a grenade while assisting a wounded Marine