Medal of Honor: Ross Franklin Gray – U.S. Marine Corps – World War II

Name: Ross Franklin Gray
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division
Place: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands
Born: August 1920, Marvel Valley, Alabama
Accredited To: Alabama

Summary of Action

During the bitter fighting on Iwo Jima, Sgt. Ross F. Gray’s platoon was advancing toward high ground northeast of Airfield No. 1 when it was suddenly halted by a barrage of enemy grenades. Recognizing the danger, he quickly organized the withdrawal of his men out of grenade range.

Moving forward alone to reconnoiter, he discovered a heavily mined field guarding a network of Japanese emplacements connected by covered trenches. Under intense gunfire, Sgt. Gray cleared a path through the minefield to one of the fortifications and returned to report the situation. He then volunteered to initiate the assault.

Unarmed except for a massive satchel charge, he crept through the minefield under cover from three fellow Marines. Reaching the first emplacement, he hurled the explosive into the entrance and sealed it. Immediately taken under machinegun fire from a second opening, he crawled back through the fire-swept ground for another charge, returned, and destroyed that entrance as well.

Undeterred, Sgt. Gray repeatedly traversed the deadly ground between his platoon and the enemy positions. Advancing, attacking, and withdrawing under relentless fire, he destroyed six Japanese strongpoints, killed more than twenty-five enemy soldiers, and eliminated significant stores of ammunition and equipment.

By the time he rejoined his unit, he had single-handedly disarmed a large minefield and shattered a formidable enemy garrison.

Medal of Honor Citation

GRAY, ROSS FRANKLIN

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Platoon Sergeant attached to Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation when his platoon was held up by a sudden barrage of hostile grenades while advancing toward the high ground northeast of Airfield No. 1, Sgt. Gray promptly organized the withdrawal of his men from enemy grenade range, quickly moved forward alone to reconnoiter and discovered a heavily mined area extending along the front of a strong network of emplacements joined by covered trenches. Although assailed by furious gunfire, he cleared a path leading through the minefield to one of the fortifications, then returned to the platoon position and, informing his leader of the serious situation, volunteered to initiate an attack under cover of 3 fellow marines. Alone and unarmed but carrying a huge satchel charge, he crept up on the Japanese emplacement, boldly hurled the short-fused explosive and sealed the entrance. Instantly taken under machinegun fire from a second entrance to the same position, he unhesitatingly braved the increasingly vicious fusillades to crawl back for another charge, returned to his objective and blasted the second opening, thereby demolishing the position. Repeatedly covering the ground between the savagely defended enemy fortifications and his platoon area, he systematically approached, attacked and withdrew under blanketing fire to destroy a total of 6 Japanese positions, more than 25 troops and a quantity of vital ordnance gear and ammunition. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sgt. Gray had single-handedly overcome a strong enemy garrison and had completely disarmed a large minefield before finally rejoining his unit. By his great personal valor, daring tactics and tenacious perseverance in the face of extreme peril, he had contributed materially to the fulfillment of his company mission. His gallant conduct throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.