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Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 2d Battalion,
26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands,
14 March 1945. Entered service at: New Jersey. Birth: 6 November 1924, Glen
Ridge, N.J. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the
2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy
Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on
14 March 1945. Voluntarily taking command of his rifle squad when the leader
became a casualty, Pvt. Sigler fearlessly led a bold charge against an
enemy gun installation which had held up the advance of his company for
several days and, reaching the position in advance of the others, assailed
the emplacement with handgrenades and personally annihilated the entire
crew. As additional Japanese troops opened fire from concealed tunnels
and caves above, he quickly scaled the rocks leading to the attacking guns,
surprised the enemy with a furious l-man assault and, although severely
wounded in the encounter, deliberately crawled back to his squad position
where he steadfastly refused evacuation, persistently directing heavy machinegun
and rocket barrages on the Japanese cave entrances. Undaunted by the merciless
rain of hostile fire during the intensified action, he gallantly disregarded
his own painful wounds to aid casualties, carrying 3 wounded squad members
to safety behind the lines and returning to continue the battle with renewed
determination until ordered to retire for medical treatment. Stouthearted
and indomitable in the face of extreme peril, Pvt. Sigler, by his alert
initiative, unfaltering leadership, and daring tactics in a critical situation,
effected the release of his besieged company from enemy fire and contributed
essentially to its further advance against a savagely fighting enemy. His
superb valor, resolute fortitude, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout
reflect the highest credit upon Pvt. Sigler and 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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