ROSS F. GRAY
Sergeant
United States Marine Corps Reserve
Ross Gray
Citation
Sergeant Ross F. Gray
United States Marine Corps Reserve
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Acting Platoon
Sergeant serving with Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines,
Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo
Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. Shrewdly gauging the tactical
situation when his platoon was heldup by a sudden barrage of hostile grenades
while advancing toward the high ground northeast of Airfield Number One,
Sergeant Gray promptly organized the withdrawal of his men from enemy grenade
range, quickly moved forward alone to reconnoiter and discovered a heavily
mined area extending along the front of a strong network of emplacements
joined by covered communication trenches. Although assailed by furious
gunfire, he cleared a path leading through the mine field to oneof the
fortifications then returned to the platoon position and, informing his
leader of the serious situation, volunteered to initiate an attack while
being covered by three fellow Marines. Alone and unarmed but carrying a
twenty-four pound satchel charge, he crept up the Japanese emplacement,
boldly hurled the short-fused explosive and sealed the entrance. Instantly
taken under machine-gun fire from a second entrance to the same position,
he unhesitatingly braved the increasingly vicious fusillades to crawl back
for another charge, returned to his objective and blasted the second opening,
thereby demolishing the position. Repeatedly covering the ground between
the savagely defended enemy fortifications and his platoon area, he systematically
approached, attacked and withdrew under blanketing fire to destroy a total
of six Japanese positions, more than twenty-five of the enemy and a quantity
of vital ordnance gear and ammunition. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sergeant
Gray had single-handedly overcome a strong enemy garrison and had completely
disarmed a large mine field before finally rejoining his unit and, by his
great personal valor, daring tactics and tenacious perseverance in the
face of extreme peril, had contributed materially to the fulfillment of
his company's mission. His gallant conduct throughout enhanced and sustained
the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
HARRY S. TRUMAN
President of the United States
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