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Charles L. McGaha (February 26, 1914〔Sources are inconsistent on McGaha's birth date. His government issued headstones give February 26, 1914 (see ), while the book "25th Infantry Division" gives February 27, 1914.〕 – August 8, 1984) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. ==Biography== McGaha was born in the small town of Cosby in eastern Tennessee〔McGaha's Medal of Honor citation incorrectly records his place of birth and enlistment as "Crosby", Tennessee.〕 to Laura McGaha. His family had a long history of service in the United States military. In October 1937, at age 23, he traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, hoping to enlist in the United States Navy. The Navy recruiter, not needing any more enlistees, turned him away, so McGaha left for Knoxville and joined the Army instead.〔 In 1941, he was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with Company G of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was there when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941, precipitating the United States' entrance into World War II.〔 McGaha fought in the Guadalcanal Campaign and the northern Solomons before participating in the campaign to recapture the Philippines from Japanese control.〔 On February 7, 1945, he was serving as a Master Sergeant during the Battle of Luzon. On that day, near Lupao, Luzon, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to aid wounded soldiers, led his platoon after the platoon leader was wounded, and deliberately drew Japanese fire onto himself so that others could escape to safety.〔 For these actions, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor and given a battlefield commission to second lieutenant. McGaha was then discharged from the Army, but soon re-enlisted as a master sergeant and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. His nomination for the Medal of Honor was approved a year after the battle, on April 2, 1946.〔 During a ceremony at the White House on March 27, 1946, President Harry S. Truman formally presented McGaha and another man, Navy Commander Richard O'Kane, with Medals of Honor.〔 In December 1949, he married Jeanette Large.〔 McGaha again became a commissioned officer and reached the rank of major before retiring from the Army. A full list of his decorations includes the Medal of Honor, four Purple Hearts, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Battle Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with star, American Service Ribbon with star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, and Master Paratrooper Wings and Star.〔 He died at age 70, after being stabbed forty times in an apparent robbery attempt,〔 and was buried in Union Cemetery, Newport, Tennessee. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Charles L. McGaha」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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