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Rank and organization: Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps.
Place and Date:
Solomon Islands, 26 October 1942. Entered service at: Pennsylvania.
Birth: 31 August 1918, Charleroi, Pa. Citation: For extraordinary heroism
and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty while
serving with a company of marines in combat against enemy Japanese forces
in the Solomon Islands on 26 October 1942. When the enemy broke through
the line directly in front of his position, P/Sgt. Paige, commanding a
machinegun section with fearless determination, continued to direct the
fire of his gunners until all his men were either killed or wounded. Alone,
against the deadly hail of Japanese shells, he fought with 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 U.S. Naval Service.
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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