World War II Honoree

James L. Gerst

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Attalla, Alabama

Honored By

David P. Norton

SERGEANT. AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS. SERVED IN THE 3RD BATTALION, 10TH MARINES, 2ND MARINE DIVISION. CITATION PRESENTED FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AS SCOUT SERGEANT IN AN ARTILLERY FORWARD OBSERVATION PARTY ATTACHED TO THE 3RD BATTALION, 10TH MARINES, 2ND MARINE DIVISION, DURING ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES ON TARAWA, GILBERT ISLANDS, NOVEMBER 27, 1943. WHILE HIS COMPANY WAS ENGAGED IN CLOSE-RANGE, BITTER FIGHTING WITH THE ENEMY, HE ORGANIZED A GROUP OF MEN, COURAGEOUSLY ADVANCED UNDER A CONSTANT HAIL OF INTENSE HOSTILE SHELLFIRE AND EVACUATED WOUNDED MEN TO THE REAR. DURING THE INTENSE FIGHTING, HE OBTAINED A RIFLE, CHARGED FORWARD OF THE FRONT LINES AND SUCCEEDED IN KILLING JAPANESE SNIPERS WHO WERE INFLICTING HEAVY CASUALTIES ON HIS FORCES AND OBSTRUCTING EVACUATION OPERATIONS. FEARLESSLY RISKING HIS LIFE IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE FOUR WOUNDED MEN FROM A DIRECT LINE OF HOSTILE FIRE, HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED. HIS GREAT PERSONAL VALOR, BRILLIANT LEADERSHIP AND SELF-SACRIFICING EFFORTS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SAVING OF MANY LIVES AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY. SERIAL NUMBER 917 (MARCH 24, 1944).