Name: George Edward Wahlen
Rank: Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class
Branch: U.S. Navy
Unit: Serving with 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division
Place: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands
Entered Service At: Utah
Born: 8 August 1924, Ogden, Utah
Summary of Action
On the volcanic slopes of Iwo Jima, Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class George Edward Wahlen fought without a rifle — armed only with medical supplies and an unbreakable will.
Wounded on February 26, 1945, during bitter fighting, he refused evacuation. Instead, he advanced forward of the frontlines through intense fire to reach a wounded Marine and carried him back to safety.
Under relentless mortar and rifle fire, Wahlen moved continuously across the battlefield, administering aid wherever Marines fell.
When an adjacent platoon was devastated by heavy casualties, he crossed into an area swept by constant enemy fire and treated fourteen wounded Marines before returning to his own unit.
On March 2, he was wounded again.
He still refused evacuation.
The following day, during a furious assault across 600 yards of open terrain, he advanced with his company under the blasting fury of Japanese guns, repeatedly exposing himself to render aid.
Then he was hit a third time.
Unable to walk, suffering agonizing wounds, Wahlen crawled fifty yards across the fire-swept ground to reach another fallen Marine and administer first aid.
Through indomitable courage and tireless devotion, he inspired the men around him during one of the fiercest engagements of the Pacific War.
His heroic self-sacrifice and steadfast fortitude reflect the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Medal of Honor Citation
WAHLEN, GEORGE EDWARD
Rank and organization: Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy, serving with 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division.
Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands group, 3 March 1945.
Entered service at: Utah.
Born: 8 August 1924, Ogden, Utah.
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, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano group on 3 March 1945. Painfully wounded in the bitter action on 26 February, Wahlen remained on the battlefield, advancing well forward of the frontlines to aid a wounded marine and carrying him back to safety despite a terrific concentration of fire. Tireless in his ministrations, he consistently disregarded all danger to attend his fighting comrades as they fell under the devastating rain of shrapnel and bullets, and rendered prompt assistance to various elements of his combat group as required. When an adjacent platoon suffered heavy casualties, he defied the continuous pounding of heavy mortars and deadly fire of enemy rifles to care for the wounded, working rapidly in an area swept by constant fire and treating 14 casualties before returning to his own platoon. Wounded again on 2 March, he gallantly refused evacuation, moving out with his company the following day in a furious assault across 600 yards of open terrain and repeatedly rendering medical aid while exposed to the blasting fury of powerful Japanese guns. Stouthearted and indomitable, he persevered in his determined efforts as his unit waged fierce battle and, unable to walk after sustaining a third agonizing wound, resolutely crawled 50 yards to administer first aid to still another fallen fighter. By his dauntless fortitude and valor, Wahlen served as a constant inspiration and contributed vitally to the high morale of his company during critical phases of this strategically important engagement. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming enemy fire upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Name: George Edward Wahlen
