World War I
Ernest August Janson
Gunnery Sergeant · U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps, 49th Company. (Served under name of Charles F. Hoffman)
6 June 1918 · Chateau-Thierry, France
Public domain. USMC Source file
- Branch
- U.S. Marine Corps
- Era
- World War I
- Home state
- New York
- Action
- Chateau Thierry, France
The citation
Official citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Immediately after the company to which G/Sergeant. Janson belonged, had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. G/Sergeant. Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with 5 light machineguns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the 2 leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machinegun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
Sources
- U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index
- Wikipedia. Linked only. The article text is not copied here.