Medal of Honor: James M. Logan, World War II, September 9, 1943

Charging Through Fire at Salerno

On the bloody beaches of Salerno, Italy, a young Texas rifleman proved that courage can shatter the strongest defenses. Sergeant James M. Logan ran straight into machine-gun fire, crossed open ground under a hail of bullets, and turned the enemy’s own weapon against them—helping secure the fragile American beachhead.

Name: James M. Logan
War: World War II
Date of Action: September 9, 1943

Summary of Action

The invasion of Italy was one of the most dangerous gambles of the Second World War. The Gulf of Salerno was heavily defended, its ridges and stone walls bristling with German machine guns. On September 9, 1943, Sergeant James Logan of the 36th Infantry Division landed with the first wave of troops.

Logan’s company pushed 800 yards inland, taking cover along the bank of an irrigation canal. But almost immediately, German forces counterattacked, pouring machine-gun, sniper, and mortar fire into the thin American line. One enemy gun, hidden behind a rock wall, pinned down the U.S. advance and threatened to drive them back into the sea.

Logan volunteered to take the position out himself. Running across 200 yards of open ground, enemy fire struck so close that stone and dirt splattered his face. He never faltered. Reaching the wall, he crept along its base, leapt up, and shot both gunners before seizing the weapon. Swinging the captured machine gun around, he raked the fleeing enemy with their own fire, scattering them in panic. Smashing the weapon against the rocks, he then captured two German soldiers—including an officer—trying to sneak away.

Later that same morning, Logan spotted a sniper hidden in a house 150 yards from his company. Again, he sprinted through enemy fire. Bursting through the locked door, he shot the sniper before he could take another life.

Logan’s reckless courage that day kept his company moving forward and helped secure a vital foothold at Salerno. His actions became a rallying point for all who witnessed them, proof that even in the face of overwhelming fire, one man’s daring could turn the tide.

Medal of Honor 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.