World War II Honoree

John J. Pinder, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE, U.S. ARMY, 16TH INFANTRY, 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: NEAR COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE, JUNE 6, 1944. ENTERED AT BURGETTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. GO 1, JANUARY 4, 1945. CITATION FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, JUNE 6, 1944, NEAR COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. ON D-DAY, HE LANDED ON THE COAST 100 YARDS OFF SHORE UNDER DEVASTATING ENEMY MACHINE GUN AND ARTILLERY FIRE WHICH CAUSED SEVERE CASUALTIES AMONG THE BOATLOAD. CARRYING A VITALLY IMPORTANT RADIO, HE STRUGGLED TOWARDS SHORE IN WAIST DEEP WATER. ONLY A FEW YARDS FROM HIS CRAFT HE WAS HIT BY ENEMY FIRE AND WAS GRAVELY WOUNDED. HE NEVER STOPPED. HE MADE SHORE AND DELIVERED THE RADIO. REFUSING TO TAKE COVER AFFORDED OR TO ACCEPT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIS WOUNDS, HE, THOUGH TERRIBLY WEAKENED BY LOSS OF BLOOD AND IN FIERCE PAIN, ON 3 OCCASIONS WENT INTO THE FIRE SWEPT SURF TO SALVAGE COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. HE RECOVERED MANY VITAL PARTS AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING ANOTHER WORKABLE RADIO. ON THE 3RD TRIP HE WAS AGAIN HIT, SUFFERING MACHINE GUN BULLET WOUNDS IN THE LEGS. STILL THIS VALIANT SOLDIER WOULD NOT STOP FOR REST OR MEDICAL ATTENTION. REMAINING EXPOSED TO HEAVY ENEMY FIRE, GROWING STEADILY WEAKER, HE AIDED IN ESTABLISHING THE VITAL RADIO COMMUNICATION ON THE BEACH. WHILE SO ENGAGED THIS DAUNTLESS SOLDIER WAS HIT FOR THE THIRD TIME AND KILLED. HIS INDOMITABLE COURAGE AND PERSONAL BRAVERY WAS A MAGNIFICENT INSPIRATION TO THE MEN WITH WHOM HE SERVED.