- SURNAME
Black
- FORENAME
Samuel Oliver
- UNIT
formerly 1st Marine Parachute Regiment (Company I)
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
817202
- DATE OF DEATH
11th March 1945
- AGE
21
- GRAVESITE
Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California, USA. Section D, 204
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 04.04.1923, San Francisco, California, USA
father William Thomas Black (1885-1969)
mother Ethel Cordelia (nee James) Black (1898-1991)
employed by Army Harbor Boat Service
30.06.1942 draft card San Francisco, California
KIA Iwo Jima
posthumous Silver Star
DATE OF DEATH:
11-Mar-1945CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Samuel O. Black (MCSN: 817202), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Acting Platoon Sergeant of a Rifle Platoon in the Third Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, in the Volcano Islands, on 11 March 1945. Fearlessly participating in four assaults against a heavily-fortified enemy bunker entrenched on commanding ground, Corporal Black voluntarily moved ahead of his platoon during the fourth attack in the face of intense Japanese small arms fire, dashing from one covering position to another in order to reach the front of the emplacement which he succeeded in silencing by hurling hand grenades through the fire ports. By this heroic action, he enabled his unit to overrun the hostile position. Mortally wounded by enemy rifle and grenade fire while assisting his leader to reorganize the platoon on the newly-won ground, Corporal Black, by his courageous fighting spirit and determined efforts, had contributed materially to the attainment of his platoon's important objective in this action and his loyal devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3552821/samuel-oliver-black
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