Last week, in honor of Veteran's Day, our local PBS station aired American Valor, a history of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the courageous men who have received our highest award for valor from Bull Run to Mogadishu ("Black Hawk Down").
Every story was compelling. One of them was that of Mitchell Paige, a son of Serbian immigrants who won the Medal for conspicuous courage amid the desperate brutality of Guadalcanal. This is the text of the official citation:
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area on October 26, 1942. When the enemy broke through the line directly in front of his position, Platoon Sergeant Paige, commanding a machine-gun section with fearless determination, continued to direct fire of his gunners until all of his men were either killed or wounded.Alone, against the deadly hail of Japanese shells, he manned his gun, and when it was destroyed, took over another, moving from gun to gun, never ceasing his withering fire against the advancing hordes until reinforcements finally arrived. Then, forming a new line, he dauntlessly and aggressively led a bayonet charge, driving the enemy back and preventing a breakthrough in our lines. His great personal valor and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
According to today's New York Times, Mitchell Paige died Saturday at his home in La Quinta, California, at the age of 85. PBS said he was "the sole surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the ground battle for Guadalcanal, America’s first ground offensive of World War II." His shining example will be missed.
Posted by Alan at November 18, 2003 12:27 PM