- SURNAME
Cargill
- FORENAME
Jerry Van
- UNIT
1st Marine Parachute Battalion
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
291833
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, 1943
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
resided Brownfield, Texas
born 24.04.1924, Tokie, Texas, USA
father Jay Thomas Cargill (1903-1945)
mother Bertie Lee Cargill (1905-1999)
joined marines aged 16
retired as Sergeant
horse trainer
died 16.04.1979 (Aged 54) Rio Linda, California, USA
buried Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park, Sacramento, California, USA
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Jerry V. Cargill (MCSN: 291833), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Marine Parachute Battalion in action against enemy Japanese forces near Koi-ari, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on November 29, 1943. Repeatedly exposing himself to intense hostile machine-gun and sniper fire, Corporal Cargill valiantly led his squad in a fierce engagement with numerically superior enemy forces. When one of his men was seriously wounded, he unhesitatingly rushed forward in the face of withering hostile fire and carried his helpless comrade to a safe position where first aid treatment was administered. Corporal Cargill's splendid initiative and unselfish devotion to duty, maintained at great personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
