Medal of Honor: Martin O. May - World War II - April 19-21, 1945

Name: Martin O. May
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division
Date of Action: April 19-21, 1945
Location: Iegusuku-Yama, Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands

Summary of Action

From 19 to 21 April 1945, Private First Class Martin O. May distinguished himself during the battle for Iegusuku-Yama on Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands.

American forces were fighting for control of the mountain’s rugged slopes against determined Japanese defenders.

May placed his heavy machine gun in an exposed but commanding position on a ridge to support advancing riflemen.

Almost immediately, he became the target of intense mortar and small-arms fire from counterattacking enemy troops.

Holding firm, he swept the attackers with accurate bursts while explosions and ricocheting bullets blasted dust and debris around him.

When a second assault developed, he hurled grenades into the advancing enemy and broke the attack.

Though offered the chance to withdraw, May volunteered to remain in position.

He chose to cover the movement of American riflemen as they reorganized for the next attack.

The heaviest enemy assault came on the morning of 21 April.

Still at his post, May continued supporting the rifle company despite devastating rifle, machine-gun, and mortar fire.

Many of the men around him became casualties.

May kept firing until a mortar shell severely wounded him and destroyed his machine gun.

Refusing evacuation, he remained in the fight.

With enemy troops closing in, he continued battling them with hand grenades.

Wounded again—this time mortally—he fought until the end.

His stand killed at least sixteen Japanese soldiers, helped hold the American line, and inspired the men who later seized the mountain stronghold.

Through unmatched tenacity and fearless devotion to duty, Martin O. May reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

MAY, MARTIN O.

He gallantly maintained a 3-day stand in the face of terrible odds when American troops fought for possession of the rugged slopes of Iegusuku-Yama on Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands. After placing his heavy machinegun in an advantageous yet vulnerable position on a ridge to support riflemen, he became the target of fierce mortar and small arms fire from counterattacking Japanese. He repulsed this assault by sweeping the enemy with accurate bursts while explosions and ricocheting bullets threw blinding dust and dirt about him. He broke up a second counterattack by hurling grenades into the midst of the enemy forces, and then refused to withdraw, volunteering to maintain his post and cover the movement of American riflemen as they reorganized to meet any further hostile action. The major effort of the enemy did not develop until the morning of 21 April. It found Pfc. May still supporting the rifle company in the face of devastating rifle, machinegun, and mortar fire. While many of the friendly troops about him became casualties, he continued to fire his machinegun until he was severely wounded and his gun rendered useless by the burst of a mortar shell. Refusing to withdraw from the violent action, he blasted fanatical Japanese troops with hand grenades until wounded again, this time mortally. By his intrepidity and the extreme tenacity with which he held firm until death against overwhelming forces, Pfc. May killed at least 16 Japanese, was largely responsible for maintaining the American lines, and inspired his comrades to efforts which later resulted in complete victory and seizure of the mountain stronghold.