World War II Honoree

George Benjamin, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS U.S. ARMY, COMPANY A, 306TH INFANTRY, 77TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, DECEMBER 21, 1944. ENTERED SERVICE AT CARNEY'S POINT, NEW JERSEY. BIRTH: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. GO NUMBER 49, JUNE 28, 1945. CITATION: HE WAS A RADIO OPERATOR, ADVANCING IN THE REAR OF HIS COMPANY AS IT ENGAGED A WELL-DEFENDED JAPANESE STRONG POINT HOLDING UP THE PROGRESS OF THE ENTIRE BATTALION. WHEN A RIFLE PLATOON SUPPORTING A LIGHT TANK HESITATED IN ITS ADVANCE, HE VOLUNTARILY AND WITH UTTER DISREGARD FOR PERSONAL SAFETY LEFT HIS COMPARATIVELY SECURE POSITION AND RAN ACROSS BULLET-WHIPPED TERRAIN TO THE TANK, WAVING AND SHOUTING TO THE MEN OF THE PLATOON TO FOLLOW. CARRYING HIS BULKY RADIO AND ARMED ONLY WITH A PISTOL, HE FEARLESSLY PENETRATED INTENSE MACHINE GUN AND RIFLE FIRE TO THE ENEMY POSITION, WHERE HE KILLED 1 OF THE ENEMY IN A FOXHOLE AND MOVED ON TO ANNIHILATE THE CREW OF A LIGHT MACHINE GUN. HEEDLESS OF THE TERRIFIC FIRE NOW CONCENTRATED ON HIM, HE CONTINUED TO SPEARHEAD THE ASSAULT, KILLING 2 MORE OF THE ENEMY AND EXHORTING THE OTHER MEN TO ADVANCE, UNTIL HE FELL MORTALLY WOUNDED. AFTER BEING EVACUATED TO AN AID STATION, HIS FIRST THOUGHT WAS STILL OF THE AMERICAN ADVANCE. OVERCOMING GREAT PAIN HE CALLED FOR THE BATTALION OPERATIONS OFFICER TO REPORT THE LOCATION OF ENEMY WEAPONS AND VALUABLE TACTICAL INFORMATION HE HAD SECURED IN HIS HEROIC CHARGE. THE UNWAVERING COURAGE, THE UNSWERVING DEVOTION TO THE TASK AT HAND, HIS AGGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP WERE A SOURCE OF GREAT AND LASTING INSPIRATION TO HIS COMRADES AND WERE TO A GREAT EXTENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE BATTALION'S MISSION.