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Robert Howard McCard |
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Engagements: • World War II (1941 - 1945) |
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Biography: | ||||
Robert Howard McCard Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipient World War II Gunnery Sergeant Robert Howard McCard (25 November 1918 - 16 June 1944) was a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. Robert Howard McCard was born on 25 November 1918 at Syracuse, NY. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 18 December 1939. He was subsequently assigned to Parris Island, SC; Norfolk Navy Yard; USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37); New York Navy Yard; U.S. Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, RI; and Central Recruiting Division, Chicago, IL. Shortly after the U.S. declared war against Japan on 8 December 1941, he was assigned to the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, IL; then the Training Center, Quantico, VA; Camp Lejeune, NC; and Camp Pendleton, CA. He served in the field from 31 January 1944 until he was killed in action at Saipan on 16 June 1944. For his heroic actions he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Medal of Honor Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon sergeant of Company A, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, during the battle for enemy Japanese-held Saipan, Marianas Islands, on 16 June 1944. Cut off from the other units of his platoon when his tank was put out of action by a battery of enemy 77mm. guns, G/Sgt. McCard carried on resolutely, bringing all the tank's weapons to bear on the enemy, until the severity of hostile fire caused him to order his crew out of the escape hatch while he courageously exposed himself to enemy guns by hurling hand grenades, in order to cover the evacuation of his men. Seriously wounded during this action and with his supply of grenades exhausted, G/Sgt. McCard then dismantled one of the tank's machineguns and faced the Japanese for the second time to deliver vigorous fire into their positions, destroying 16 of the enemy but sacrificing himself to insure the safety of his crew. His valiant fighting spirit and supreme loyalty in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit upon G/Sgt. McCard and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Honors In 1945, the USS Robert H. McCard (DD-822), a Gearing-class destroyer, was named in his honor. Death and Burial Gunnery Sergeant Robert Howard McCard was killed in action on 16 June 1944. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI, in Section B, Grave 1024. |
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Honoree ID: 1523 | Created by: MHOH |