JANSON, ERNEST AUGUST - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 49th Company.
(Served under name of Charles F. Hoffman) Born: 17 August 1878, New York,
N.Y. Accredited to: New York. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.) Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of
duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918.
Immediately after the company to which G/Sgt. Janson belonged, had reached
its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched
against the line before the new position had been consolidated. G/Sgt.
Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the
hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with 5 light machineguns, crawling
toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted
the 2 leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His
quick action, initiative and courage drove the enemy from a position from
which they could have swept the hill with machinegun fire and forced the
withdrawal of our troops.
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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