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Agerholm, Harold Christ

Date of birth:
January 29th, 1925 (Racine/Wisconsin, United States)
Date of death:
July 7th, 1944 (Island Saipan, Mariana Islands)
Buried on:
American War Grave Mound Cemetery
Plot: 4-E. Row: 8. Grave: 4.
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

He was also entitled to wear the Presidential Unit Citation.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private First Class (Marine)
Unit:
Headquarters and Service Battery, 4th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division "The Silent Second", U.S. Marine Corps
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 4th Battalion, 10th Marines, 2d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, 7 July 1944. When the enemy launched a fierce, determined counterattack against our positions and overran a neighboring artillery battalion, Pfc. Agerholm immediately volunteered to assist in the efforts to check the hostile attack and evacuate our wounded. Locating and appropriating an abandoned ambulance jeep, he repeatedly made extremely perilous trips under heavy rifle and mortar fire and single-handedly loaded and evacuated approximately 45 casualties, working tirelessly and with utter disregard for his own safety during a grueling period of more than 3 hours. Despite intense, persistent enemy fire, he ran out to aid 2 men whom he believed to be wounded marines but was himself mortally wounded by a Japanese sniper while carrying out his hazardous mission. Pfc. Agerholm's brilliant initiative, great personal valor and self-sacrificing efforts in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Awarded posthumously.
Medal of Honor - Navy/Marine Corps (MoH)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

w/ 2 bronze stars
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

Sources

  • Photo: US National Parc Service
  • - Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes – 433 men of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor 1941-1945, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996
    - Johnston, R.W., Follow Me! – The Story of the Second Marine Division in WWII, The Battery Press, Nashville, USA, 1987
    - Marine Medals | index.htm

Photo