Medal of Honor: Robert S. Scott – World War II – July 29, 1943

Name: Robert S. Scott
Rank: Captain (then First Lieutenant)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: 172nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division
Date of Action: July 29, 1943
Location: Near Munda Airstrip, New Georgia, Solomon Islands

Summary of Action

On 29 July 1943, after twenty-seven days of bitter combat on New Georgia, American forces continued their struggle to seize the heavily defended approaches to Munda Airfield.

A Japanese hilltop stronghold dominated the surrounding terrain and controlled the avenue of advance toward the airfield.

Despite weeks of continuous fighting and mounting casualties, Lieutenant Robert S. Scott advanced with the leading platoon of his company during the attack.

Moving among his men under intense rifle and machine-gun fire, he encouraged them forward against the enemy defenses.

Pressing farther ahead, Scott advanced alone across the exposed hilltop until he reached a position approximately seventy-five yards from the Japanese lines.

At that moment, enemy forces launched a determined counterattack.

Japanese soldiers surged across the plateau, firing rifles and throwing grenades as they attempted to retake the hill.

Under the weight of the attack, the American company was forced to withdraw.

Scott, however, remained behind.

Taking cover behind only a shattered tree stump, he stood alone against the advancing enemy.

Using his carbine and the grenades he carried, he halted the initial assault and bought valuable time to obtain additional grenades.

Enemy bullets and exploding grenades struck around him.

His carbine was shot from his hand, he suffered a bullet wound to his left hand, and grenade fragments wounded his head.

Despite these injuries, Scott continued fighting.

Armed only with grenades, he repeatedly threw them with remarkable accuracy into the advancing enemy ranks.

His determined stand finally broke the Japanese attack and forced the enemy to withdraw.

Inspired by his courage, the American troops renewed their assault, swept across the hill, and captured the objective.

Four days later, American forces seized Munda Airfield.

Lieutenant Robert S. Scott's extraordinary courage and unwavering determination reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

SCOTT, ROBERT S.

Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant), U.S. Army, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Munda Airstrip, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 29 July 1943.

Entered service at: Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Birth: Washington, D.C.

G.O. No.: 81, 14 October 1944.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Munda Airstrip, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 29 July 1943.

After twenty-seven days of bitter fighting, the enemy held a hilltop salient which commanded the approach to Munda Airstrip. Our troops were exhausted from prolonged battle and heavy casualties, but Lieutenant Scott advanced with the leading platoon of his company to attack the enemy position, urging his men forward in the face of enemy rifle and machine-gun fire.

He had pushed forward alone to a point midway across the barren hilltop within seventy-five yards of the enemy when the enemy launched a desperate counterattack, which if successful would have gained undisputed possession of the hill.

Enemy riflemen charged out on the plateau, firing and throwing grenades as they moved to engage our troops.

The company withdrew, but Lieutenant Scott, with only a blasted tree stump for cover, stood his ground against the wild enemy assault.

By firing his carbine and throwing the grenades in his possession he momentarily stopped the enemy advance, using the brief respite to obtain more grenades.

Disregarding small-arms fire and exploding grenades aimed at him, suffering a bullet wound in the left hand and a painful shrapnel wound in the head after his carbine had been shot from his hand, he threw grenade after grenade with devastating accuracy until the beaten enemy withdrew.

Our troops, inspired to renewed effort by Lieutenant Scott's intrepid stand and incomparable courage, swept across the plateau to capture the hill, and from this strategic position four days later captured Munda Airstrip.