Medal of Honor: John R. McKinney - World War II - May 11, 1945

Name: John R. McKinney
Rank: Sergeant (then Private)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company A, 123d Infantry, 33d Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 11, 1945
Location: Tayabas Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands

Summary of Action

On 11 May 1945, near Dingalan Bay on Luzon, Private John R. McKinney fought one of the most savage single-handed defensive battles of the Pacific War.

An American outpost had been established near the bay when, just before dawn, approximately one hundred Japanese soldiers launched a stealth attack against the perimeter.

The main assault crashed into a light machine-gun position manned by three Americans.

McKinney had just completed a long shift on the gun and was resting nearby when a Japanese soldier struck him across the head with a saber.

Dazed but still conscious, McKinney instantly fought back.

He seized his rifle, beat down the attacker with the weapon, then shot another enemy soldier charging toward him.

At the machine-gun position, one American had already been wounded and the second soldier withdrew while carrying the casualty to safety.

That left McKinney alone.

Ten Japanese soldiers had already seized the machine gun and were preparing to turn it against the American perimeter.

Without hesitation, McKinney charged directly into the emplacement.

At point-blank range he shot seven enemy soldiers and clubbed three more to death with the butt of his rifle.

The brutal close-quarters fight wrecked the machine gun, leaving him armed only with his rifle against the continuing Japanese assault.

Grenades exploded around him.

Knee mortars slammed into the perimeter.

Wave after wave of enemy soldiers surged forward.

McKinney moved from position to position in the darkness, reloading repeatedly, firing into the attackers at close range, and engaging others in savage hand-to-hand combat.

When reinforcements finally arrived, McKinney still held the position.

The ground around the machine-gun emplacement was covered with enemy dead.

Thirty-eight Japanese soldiers lay around the gun itself, with two more beside a mortar position nearby — an astonishing toll inflicted almost entirely by one man.

His ferocious determination, fighting skill, and refusal to yield saved his company from possible destruction and reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

McKINNEY, JOHN R.

He fought with extreme gallantry to defend the outpost which had been established near Dingalan Bay. Just before daybreak approximately 100 Japanese stealthily attacked the perimeter defense, concentrating on a light machinegun position manned by 3 Americans. Having completed a long tour of duty at this gun, Pvt. McKinney was resting a few paces away when an enemy soldier dealt him a glancing blow on the head with a saber. Although dazed by the stroke, he seized his rifle, bludgeoned his attacker, and then shot another assailant who was charging him. Meanwhile, 1 of his comrades at the machinegun had been wounded and his other companion withdrew carrying the injured man to safety. Alone, Pvt. McKinney was confronted by 10 infantrymen who had captured the machinegun with the evident intent of reversing it to fire into the perimeter. Leaping into the emplacement, he shot 7 of them at pointblank range and killed 3 more with his rifle butt. In the melee the machinegun was rendered inoperative, leaving him only his rifle with which to meet the advancing Japanese, who hurled grenades and directed knee mortar shells into the perimeter. He warily changed position, secured more ammunition, and reloading repeatedly, cut down waves of the fanatical enemy with devastating fire or clubbed them to death in hand-to-hand combat. When assistance arrived, he had thwarted the assault and was in complete control of the area. Thirty-eight dead Japanese around the machinegun and 2 more at the side of a mortar 45 yards distant was the amazing toll he had exacted single-handedly. By his indomitable spirit, extraordinary fighting ability, and unwavering courage in the face of tremendous odds, Pvt. McKinley saved his company from possible annihilation and set an example of unsurpassed intrepidity.