Congressional Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day September 9th

[David]

Congressional Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day September 9th


TAYLOR, JOHN
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Biography not available. G.O. No.: 71, 15 January 1866. Citation: Seaman in charge of the picket boat attached to the Navy Yard, New York, 9 September 1865. Acting with promptness, coolness and good judgment, Taylor rescued from drowning Commander S. D. Trenchard, of the U.S. Navy, who fell overboard in attempting to get on a ferryboat, which had collided with an English steamer, and needed immediate assistance.

HAY, FRED S.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Upper Wichita, Tex., 9 September 1874. Entered service at:------. Birth: Scotland. Date of issue: 23 April 1875. Citation: Gallantry in action.

KELLY, JOHN J. H.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Upper Wichita, Tex., 9 September 1874. Entered service at. ------. Birth: Schuyler County, 111. Date of issue: 23 April 1875. Citation: Gallantry in action.

KELLY, THOMAS
Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Upper Wichita, Tex., 9 September 1874. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 23 April 1875. Citation: Gallantry in action.

KITCHEN, GEORGE K.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Upper Wichita, Tex., 9 September 1874. Entered service at:------. Birth: Lebanon County, Pa. Date of issue: 23 April 1875. Citation: Gallantry in action.

KNOX, JOHN W.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Upper Wichita, Tex., 9 September 1874. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Burlington, lowa. Date of issue: 23 April 1875. Citation: Gallantry in action.

KOELPIN, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Upper Wichita, Tex., 9 September 1874. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: Prussia. Date of issue: 23 April 1875. Citation: Gallantry in action.

SMITH, ROBERT
Rank and organization: Private, Company M, 3d U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Slim Buttes, Mont., 9 September 1876. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. Date of issue: 16 October 1877. Citation: Special bravery in endeavoring to dislodge Indians secreted in a ravine .

BELL, J. FRANKLIN
Rank and organization: Colonel, 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: Near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 9 September 1899. Entered service at: Shelbyville, Ky. Born: 9 January 1856, Shelbyville, Ky. Date of issue: 11 December 1899. Citation: While in advance of his regiment charged 7 insurgents with his pistol and compelled the surrender of the captain and 2 privates under a close fire from the remaining insurgents concealed in a bamboo thicket.

GROVE, WILLIAM R.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: Near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 9 September 1899. Entered service at: Denver, Colo. Birth: Montezuma, lowa. Date of issue: 16 July 1902. Citation: In advance of his regiment, rushed to the assistance of his colonel, charging, pistol in hand, 7 insurgents, and compelling surrender of all not killed or wounded.

SMITH, EUGENE P.
Rank and organization: Chief Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 8 August 1871, Truney, Ill. Accredited to: California. G.O. No.: 189, 8 February 1916. Citation: Attached to U.S.S. Decatur; for several times entering compartments on board of Decatur immediately following an explosion on board that vessel, 9 September 1915, and locating and rescuing injured shipmates.

LOGAN, JAMES M.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Salerno, Italy, 9 September 1943. Entered service at: Luling, Tex. Birth: McNeil, Tex. G.O. No.: 54, 5 July 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict on 9 September 1943 in the vicinity of Salerno, Italy. As a rifleman of an infantry company, Sgt. Logan landed with the first wave of the assault echelon on the beaches of the Gulf of Salerno, and after his company had advanced 800 yards inland and taken positions along the forward bank of an irrigation canal, the enemy began a serious counterattack from positions along a rock wall which ran parallel with the canal about 200 yards further inland. Voluntarily exposing himself to the fire of a machinegun located along the rock wall, which sprayed the ground so close to him that he was splattered with dirt and rock splinters from the impact of the bullets, Sgt. Logan killed the first 3 Germans as they came through a gap in the wall. He then attacked the machinegun. As he dashed across the 200 yards of exposed terrain a withering stream of fire followed his advance. Reaching the wall, he crawled along the base, within easy reach of the enemy crouched along the opposite side, until he reached the gun. Jumping up, he shot the 2 gunners down, hurdled the wall, and seized the gun. Swinging it around, he immediately opened fire on the enemy with the remaining ammunition, raking their flight and inflicting further casualties on them as they fled. After smashing the machinegun over the rocks, Sgt. Logan captured an enemy officer and private who were attempting to sneak away. Later in the morning, Sgt. Logan went after a sniper hidden in a house about 150 yards from the company. Again the intrepid Sgt. ran a gauntlet of fire to reach his objective. Shooting the lock off the door, Sgt. Logan kicked it in and shot the sniper who had just reached the bottom of the stairs. The conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity which characterized Sgt. Logan's exploits proved a constant inspiration to all the men of his company, and aided materially in insuring the success of the beachhead at Salerno.