KYBELL-L Archives

Archiver > KYBELL > 2006-11 > 1162500311


From: SouthPawPhilly <>
Subject: [KYBELL] LEONARD FOSTER MASON b. Middlesboro;Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 15:45:11 -0500


Source: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm

Note: This is not my ancestry. I have NO additional information. I am
just passing along information that may be useful.*

MASON, LEONARD FOSTER

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 2
February 1920, Middleborough, Ky. Accredited to: Ohio. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty as an automatic rifleman serving with the
2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy
Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands
on 22 July 1944. Suddenly taken under fire by 2 enemy machineguns not
more than 15 yards away while clearing out hostile positions holding
up the advance of his platoon through a narrow gully, Pfc. Mason,
alone and entirely on his own initiative, climbed out of the gully and
moved parallel to it toward the rear of the enemy position. Although
fired upon immediately by hostile riflemen from a higher position and
wounded repeatedly in the arm and shoulder, Pfc. Mason grimly pressed
forward and had just reached his objective when hit again by a burst
of enemy machinegun fire, causing a critical wound to which he later
succumbed. With valiant disregard for his own peril, he persevered,
clearing out the hostile position, killing 5 Japanese, wounding
another and then rejoining his platoon to report the results of his
action before consenting to be evacuated. His exceptionally heroic act
in the face of almost certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish
its mission and reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Mason and the
U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.


Memorial: Honolulu, Hawaii in National Memorial Cemetery of the
Pacific -- The Wall of the Missing

Born: 1920 MIDDLESBORO, KY

Died: 1944 KILLED IN ACTION


Additional Information and cemetery monument photo:

http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/pages_go/mason_leonard.html

BIO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Foster_Mason


* Feel free to pass this on to other appropriate resources.

This thread: