Medal of Honor: William J. Bordelon – World War II – November 20, 1943

Name: William James Bordelon
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: Assault Engineer Platoon, 1st Battalion, 18th Marines (Attached to 2nd Marine Division)
Place and Date: Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands – November 20, 1943
Entered Service At: San Antonio, Texas
Born: December 25, 1920 – San Antonio, Texas
Departed: November 20, 1943 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Texas

Summary of Action

At dawn on November 20, 1943, the assault on Betio began — a narrow coral island defended by some of the most fortified Japanese positions anywhere in the Pacific. As the first wave of Marines approached the beach, Staff Sergeant William J. Bordelon’s amphibious tractor was torn apart by heavy machine-gun fire, killing nearly everyone aboard except four survivors.

Bordelon immediately went to work. Under relentless fire, he assembled demolition charges and personally destroyed two enemy pillboxes that were tearing into the landing force. As he assaulted a third position, a burst of enemy gunfire struck him moments before a charge detonated in his hand — but he refused evacuation, grabbed a rifle, and continued the fight.

When he saw one of his wounded Marines calling for help in the surf, he waded out through enemy fire and dragged him to safety — then returned again to rescue a second man. Bleeding heavily and still refusing first aid, he gathered more charges and launched a solo attack on a fourth Japanese machine-gun position. As he charged the emplacement, a final burst of enemy fire killed him instantly.

Bordelon’s courage helped secure the fragile beachhead on Tarawa, enabling follow-on Marines to break through the Japanese defenses. His actions in the first brutal minutes of the landings became a defining example of Marine Corps valor.

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Medal of Honor Citation

For valorous and gallant conduct above and beyond the call of duty as a member of an assault engineer platoon of the 1st Battalion, 18th Marines, tactically attached to the 2d Marine Division, in action against the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands on 20 November 1943. Landing in the assault waves under withering enemy fire which killed all but 4 of the men in his tractor, S/Sgt. Bordelon hurriedly made demolition charges and personally put 2 pillboxes out of action. Hit by enemy machinegun fire just as a charge exploded in his hand while assaulting a third position, he courageously remained in action and, although out of demolition, provided himself with a rifle and furnished fire coverage for a group of men scaling the seawall. Disregarding his own serious condition, he unhesitatingly went to the aid of one of his demolition men, wounded and calling for help in the water, rescuing this man and another who had been hit by enemy fire while attempting to make the rescue. Still refusing first aid for himself, he again made up demolition charges and single-handedly assaulted a fourth Japanese machinegun position but was instantly killed when caught in a final burst of fire from the enemy. S/Sgt. Bordelon’s great personal valor during a critical phase of securing the limited beachhead was a contributing factor in the ultimate occupation of the island, and his heroic determination throughout 3 days of violent battle.