McTUREOUS, ROBERT MILLER, JR. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Birth: 26 March 1924,
Altoona, Fla. Accredited to: Florida. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty,
while serving with the 3d Battalion, 29th Marines, 6th Marine Division,
during action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa in the Ryukyu Chain,
7 June 1945. Alert and ready for any hostile counteraction following his
company's seizure of an important hill objective, Pvt. McTureous was quick
to observe the plight of company stretcher bearers who were suddenly assailed
by slashing machinegun fire as they attempted to evacuate wounded at the
rear of the newly won position. Determined to prevent further casualties,
he quickly filled his jacket with hand grenades and charged the enemy-occupied
caves from which the concentrated barrage was emanating. Coolly disregarding
all personal danger as he waged his furious 1-man assault, he smashed grenades
into the cave entrances, thereby diverting the heaviest fire from the stretcher
bearers to his own person and, resolutely returning to his own lines under
a blanketing hail of rifle and machinegun fire to replenish his supply
of grenades, dauntlessly continued his systematic reduction of Japanese
strength until he himself sustained serious wounds after silencing a large
number of the hostile guns. Aware of his own critical condition and unwilling
to further endanger the lives of his comrades, he stoically crawled a distance
of 200 yards to a sheltered position within friendly lines before calling
for aid. By his fearless initiative and bold tactics, Pvt. McTureous had
succeeded in neutralizing the enemy fire, killing 6 Japanese troops and
effectively disorganizing the remainder of the savagely defending garrison.
His outstanding valor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice during a critical
stage of operations reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S.
Naval Service.
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