World War II Honoree

Rufus G. Herring

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Roseboro, North Carolina

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. NAVAL RESERVE, LCI 449. PLACE AND DATE: IWO JIMA, FEBRUARY 17, 1945. ENTERED SERVICE AT: NORTH CAROLINA. CITATION: FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF LCI 449 OPERATING AS A UNIT OF LCI GROUP 8, DURING THE PRE-INVASION ATTACK ON IWO JIMA ON FEBRUARY 17, 1945. BOLDLY CLOSING THE STRONGLY FORTIFIED SHORES UNDER THE DEVASTATING FIRE OF JAPANESE COASTAL DEFENSE GUNS, HE DIRECTED SHATTERING BARRAGES OF 40-MM AND 20-MM GUNFIRE AGAINST HOSTILE BEACHES UNTIL STRUCK DOWN BY THE ENEMY'S SAVAGE COUNTER FIRE WHICH BLASTED THE 449TH HEAVY GUNS AND WHIPPED HER DECKS INTO SHEETS OF FLAME. REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS DESPITE PROFUSE BLEEDING HE WAS AGAIN CRITICALLY WOUNDED WHEN A JAPANESE MORTAR CRASHED THE CONNING STATION, INSTANTLY KILLING OR FATALLY WOUNDING MOST OF THE OFFICERS AND LEAVING THE SHIP WALLOWING WITHOUT NAVIGATIONAL CONTROL. UPON RECOVERING THE SECOND TIME, HE RESOLUTELY CLIMBED DOWN TO THE PILOTHOUSE AND FIGHTING AGAINST HIS RAPIDLY WANING STRENGTH, TOOK OVER THE HELM, ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATION WITH THE ENGINE ROOM AND CARRIED ON VALIANTLY UNTIL RELIEF COULD BE OBTAINED. WHEN NO LONGER ABLE TO STAND HE PROPPED HIMSELF AGAINST EMPTY SHELL CASES AND RALLIED HIS MEN TO THE AID OF THE WOUNDED. HE MAINTAINED POSITION IN THE FIRING LINE WITH HIS 20-MM GUNS IN ACTION IN THE FACE OF SUSTAINED ENEMY FIRE AND CONNED HIS CRIPPLED SHIP TO SAFETY. HIS UNWAVERING FORTITUDE, AGGRESSIVE PERSEVERANCE AND INDOMITABLE SPIRIT AGAINST TERRIFIC ODDS REFLECT THE HIGHEST CREDIT UPON HE AND UPHOLD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE.