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Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Birth: 8 August 1925, Quincy, Mass. Accredited to: Massachusetts. Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company 1,
3d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy
Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands,
3 March 1945. Consistently aggressive, Pfc. Caddy boldly defied shattering
Japanese machinegun and small arms fire to move forward with his platoon
leader and another marine during the determined advance of his company
through an isolated sector and, gaining the comparative safety of a shell
hole, took temporary cover with his comrades. Immediately pinned down by
deadly sniper fire from a well-concealed position, he made several unsuccessful
attempts to again move forward and then, joined by his platoon leader,
engaged the enemy in a fierce exchange of hand grenades until a Japanese
grenade fell beyond reach in the shell hole. Fearlessly disregarding all
personal danger, Pfc. Caddy instantly dived on the deadly missile, absorbing
the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious
injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, he unhesitatingly yielded his own
life that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless battle against
a fanatic enemy. His dauntless courage and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice
in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Caddy
and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his comrades.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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