MOH

Medal of Honor: Troy A. McGill – U.S. Army – World War II

Two hundred attackers in the dark. One foxhole still firing. He held the line alone.

March 4, 2026

Name: Troy A. McGill
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Place: Los Negros Island, Admiralty Group
Entered Service At: Ada, Oklahoma
Born: Knoxville, Tennessee
G.O. No.: 74, 11 September 1944

Summary of Action

In the early morning hours on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Group, Sergeant Troy A. McGill and a small squad of eight soldiers held a defensive revetment against a massive enemy assault.

Nearly 200 Japanese soldiers, many in a frenzied charge, surged toward their position.

Machine-gun crossfire swept the area from both flanks, isolating McGill’s squad from the rest of the American defenses. One by one, his men were killed or wounded.

Soon only two remained.

Recognizing the hopeless odds, Sgt. McGill ordered the surviving soldier to withdraw to the next defensive position while he remained behind.

Alone.

Determined to hold the line, McGill continued firing his weapon into the attacking force until it jammed and ceased to function.

The enemy closed to within five yards.

Rather than retreat, Sgt. McGill leapt from his foxhole and charged directly into the attackers. Wielding his rifle as a club, he fought in savage hand-to-hand combat until he was finally overwhelmed and killed.

At dawn, 105 enemy soldiers were found dead around his position.

His solitary stand shattered the attack and helped secure the American defense on Los Negros Island.

Sergeant Troy A. McGill’s extraordinary courage and selfless sacrifice were decisive in defeating a determined enemy assault and remain among the most remarkable acts of valor in the Pacific War.

Medal of Honor Citation

McGILL, TROY A.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Place and date: Los Negros Islands, Admiralty Group, 4 March 1944.
Entered service at: Ada, Okla.
Birth: Knoxville, Tenn.
G.O. No.: 74, 11 September 1944.

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Los Negros Island, Admiralty Group, on 4 March 1944. In the early morning hours Sgt. McGill, with a squad of 8 men, occupied a revetment which bore the brunt of a furious attack by approximately 200 drinkcrazed enemy troops. Although covered by crossfire from machineguns on the right and left flank he could receive no support from the remainder of our troops stationed at his rear. All members of the squad were killed or wounded except Sgt. McGill and another man, whom he ordered to return to the next revetment. Courageously resolved to hold his position at all cost, he fired his weapon until it ceased to function. Then, with the enemy only 5 yards away, he charged from his foxhole in the face of certain death and clubbed the enemy with his rifle in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. At dawn 105 enemy dead were found around his position. Sgt. McGill’s intrepid stand was an inspiration to his comrades and a decisive factor in the defeat of a fanatical enemy.