World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John S. Nedoroscik
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Douglas, Massachusetts
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ONE OF THE ‘BOYS OF DOUGLAS’ WHO SERVED DURING THE WAR. HIS REGIMENT SAILED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA PORT OF EMBARKATION IN JUNE, 1942 FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC AREA. HIS UNIT LANDED AT GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS ON AUGUST 7, 1942. HE SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH COMPANY H, 2ND BATTALION, 1ST MARINE REGIMENT, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE GUADALCANAL OPERATION, INCLUDING AT TULAGI, GAVUTU, TANAMBOGO, OFF FLORIDA ISLAND, AND ON GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. HE TOOK PART IN THE BATTLE OF TENARU ON AUGUST 21, 1942 TO DEFEAT THE FIRST JAPANESE COUNTERATTACK OF THE CAMPAIGN. FOUGHT AT GUADALCANAL UNTIL DECEMBER 8, 1942, WHEN EXHAUSTED MARINE FORCES WERE PULLED OFF THE LINE AND RELIEVED OF COMBAT OPERATIONS. THE REGIMENT THEN MOVED TO MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA TO REST AND REFIT. HIS REGIMENT WAS THE FIRST ASHORE AT THE BATTLE OF CAPE GLOUCESTER, ON NEW BRITAIN ISLAND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO ON DECEMBER 26, 1943. HE WAS CITED FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY ON DECEMBER 30, 1943, WHILE SERVING AS LEADER OF A MACHINE GUN SECTION IN COMPANY H WHILE IN ACTION AGAINST JAPANESE FORCES ON NEW BRITAIN ISLAND. HIS POSITION WAS OVERRUN BUT HE LED HIS MEN BACK INTO THE GUN PITS AND ENGAGED THE ENEMY IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT TO REGAIN THE POSITION. HE THEN MANNED ONE OF THE GUNS AND BROUGHT EFFECTIVE FIRE TO BEAR ON THE ENEMY. HIS ACTIONS HELPED STABILIZE FRIENDLY LINES AND BROKE THE BACK OF THE ATTACK. FOR HIS OUTSTANDING COURAGE, LEADERSHIP AND FIGHTING SPIRIT IN THE FACE OF HEAVY ODDS, HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR. ALSO FOUGHT AT SUICIDE CREEK AND AJAR RIDGE DURING OPERATIONS ON NEW BRITAIN, WHICH ENDED IN FEBRUARY, 1944. OTHER AWARDS INCLUDE THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT IN COMBAT AT GUADALCANAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF PLATOON SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.