Medal of Honor: Justice M. Chambers – U.S. Marine Corps – World War II

Name: Justice M. Chambers
Rank: Colonel (then Lieutenant Colonel)
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Unit: 3d Assault Battalion Landing Team, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division
Place: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands
Entered Service At: Washington, D.C.
Born: 2 February 1908, Huntington, West Virginia

Summary of Action

On D-Day at Iwo Jima, Col. Justice M. Chambers landed just behind the initial assault waves and found his battalion’s advance threatened by devastating Japanese artillery, mortar, rocket, machinegun, and rifle fire pouring down from commanding cliffs.

With casualties mounting and the assault momentum faltering, he moved forward under relentless fire and reorganized his battered units. Calm, resolute, and exposed to the enemy’s concentrated fire, he inspired his Marines by personal example and led them in a determined assault against the critical high ground.

For eight grueling hours, he remained at the front, urging his men forward in the fight to seize the ridge that dominated the beaches. The capture of that terrain reduced the enemy’s deadly fields of fire and secured the tenuous foothold gained on the island.

Even amid severe losses—including the death or incapacitation of most of his key officers—Col. Chambers continued to reconnoiter across the regimental zone, maintaining coordination with adjacent units and relaying vital intelligence.

Undeterred by staggering casualties, he reorganized his forces once more and prepared them for renewed assault against the enemy’s main line of resistance. While personally directing rocket fire against enemy positions, he was critically wounded.

Evacuated under heavy fire, his leadership had already proven decisive. His courage, determination, and forceful command were directly instrumental in ensuring the success of subsequent operations by the 5th Amphibious Corps on Iwo Jima.

Medal of Honor Citation

CHAMBERS, JUSTICE M.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the 3d Assault Battalion Landing Team, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 to 22 February 1945. Under a furious barrage of enemy machinegun and small-arms fire from the commanding cliffs on the right, Col. Chambers (then Lt. Col.) landed immediately after the initial assault waves of his battalion on D-day to find the momentum of the assault threatened by heavy casualties from withering Japanese artillery, mortar rocket, machinegun, and rifle fire. Exposed to relentless hostile fire, he coolly reorganized his battle-weary men, inspiring them to heroic efforts by his own valor and leading them in an attack on the critical, impregnable high ground from which the enemy was pouring an increasing volume of fire directly onto troops ashore as well as amphibious craft in succeeding waves. Constantly in the front lines encouraging his men to push forward against the enemy’s savage resistance, Col. Chambers led the 8-hour battle to carry the flanking ridge top and reduce the enemy’s fields of aimed fire, thus protecting the vital foothold gained. In constant defiance of hostile fire while reconnoitering the entire regimental combat team zone of action, he maintained contact with adjacent units and forwarded vital information to the regimental commander. His zealous fighting spirit undiminished despite terrific casualties and the loss of most of his key officers, he again reorganized his troops for renewed attack against the enemy’s main line of resistance and was directing the fire of the rocket platoon when he fell, critically wounded. Evacuated under heavy Japanese fire, Col. Chambers, by forceful leadership, courage, and fortitude in the face of staggering odds, was directly instrumental in insuring the success of subsequent operations of the 5th Amphibious Corps on Iwo Jima, thereby sustaining and enhancing the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.