Name: William George Harrell
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division
Place: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands
Entered Service At: Mercedes, Texas
Born: 26 June 1922, Rio Grande City, Texas
Summary of Action
Before dawn on Iwo Jima, Sergeant William George Harrell stood watch in terrain riddled with caves and ravines, guarding the company command post within the perimeter defense.
In the early darkness, Japanese troops infiltrated the lines.
Awakened by the sudden assault, Harrell immediately opened fire with his carbine, killing two enemy soldiers as they emerged from a ravine illuminated by a star shell.
Grenades began falling closer.
He fought alone.
During the fierce exchange, an exploding grenade tore off his left hand and shattered his thigh. Bleeding heavily, he struggled to reload his weapon. When another Marine returned with a replacement firearm, Harrell resumed the fight.
A Japanese soldier rushed his foxhole wielding a saber.
Though wounded again, Harrell drew his pistol and killed the attacker, then ordered his injured companion to withdraw to safety.
Exhausted and losing blood, he refused to yield.
Two more enemy soldiers charged and dropped a grenade beside him. Killing one with his pistol, Harrell seized the live grenade with his remaining right hand and forced it toward the crouching attacker.
The explosion destroyed the enemy — and severed Harrell’s other hand.
At dawn, he was evacuated from a foxhole surrounded by twelve dead Japanese soldiers. At least five had fallen directly to his fire.
Through unimaginable pain and catastrophic wounds, he never abandoned his post. His grim fortitude and indomitable spirit in the face of overwhelming odds stand among the fiercest examples of Marine Corps valor on Iwo Jima.
Medal of Honor Citation
HARRELL, WILLIAM GEORGE
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division.
Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945.
Entered service at: Mercedes, Tex.
Born: 26 June 1922, Rio Grande City, Tex.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of an assault group attached to the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division during hand-to-hand combat with enemy Japanese at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. Standing watch alternately with another marine in a terrain studded with caves and ravines, Sgt. Harrell was holding a position in a perimeter defense around the company command post when Japanese troops infiltrated our lines in the early hours of dawn. Awakened by a sudden attack, he quickly opened fire with his carbine and killed 2 of the enemy as they emerged from a ravine in the light of a star shellburst. Unmindful of his danger as hostile grenades fell closer, he waged a fierce lone battle until an exploding missile tore off his left hand and fractured his thigh. He was vainly attempting to reload the carbine when his companion returned from the command post with another weapon. Wounded again by a Japanese who rushed the foxhole wielding a saber in the darkness, Sgt. Harrell succeeded in drawing his pistol and killing his opponent and then ordered his wounded companion to a place of safety. Exhausted by profuse bleeding but still unbeaten, he fearlessly met the challenge of 2 more enemy troops who charged his position and placed a grenade near his head. Killing 1 man with his pistol, he grasped the sputtering grenade with his good right hand, and, pushing it painfully toward the crouching soldier, saw his remaining assailant destroyed but his own hand severed in the explosion. At dawn Sgt. Harrell was evacuated from a position hedged by the bodies of 12 dead Japanese, at least 5 of whom he had personally destroyed in his self-sacrificing defense of the command post. His grim fortitude, exceptional valor, and indomitable fighting spirit against almost insurmountable odds reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Name: William George Harrell
