Private First Class George Benjamin Jr., a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on December 21, 1944 in Leyte, Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company A, 306th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Benjamin was 25 years old.
Benjamin was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. Presentation: Presented by Brig. Gen. Ralph K. Robertson to his Widow.
Benjamin was born on April 24, 1919 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Carney's Point, Salem County, New Jersey. He is buried at A.B.M.C. Manila Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.
Benjamin is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He was a radio operator, advancing in the rear of his company as it engaged a well-defended Japanese strongpoint holding up the progress of the entire battalion. When a rifle platoon supporting a light tank hesitated in its advance, he voluntarily and with utter disregard for personal safety left his comparatively secure position and ran across bullet-whipped terrain to the tank, waving and shouting to the men of the platoon to follow. Carrying his bulky radio and armed only with a pistol, he fearlessly penetrated intense machine-gun and rifle fire to the enemy position, where he killed one of the enemy in a foxhole and moved to annihilate the crew of a light machine gun. Heedless of the terrific fire now concentrated on him, he continued to spearhead the assault, killing two more of the enemy and exhorting the other men to advance, until he fell mortally wounded. After being evacuated to an aid station, his first thought was still of the American advance. Overcoming great pain he called for the battalion operations officer to report the location of enemy weapons and valuable tactical information he had secured in his heroic charge. The unwavering courage, the unswerving devotion to the task at hand, the aggressive leadership of Pfc. Benjamin were a source of great and lasting inspiration to his comrades and were to a great extent responsible for the success of the battalion's mission.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Heedless of the terrific fire now concentrated on him, he continued to spearhead the assault, killing two more of the enemy and exhorting the other men to advance, until he fell mortally wounded.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (December 21, 1944).
- Age at death: 25
- Resting place: A.B.M.C. Manila Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, George Benjamin Jr. received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Woodbury Junior-Senior High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- April 24, 1919Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- December 21, 1944Act of valor — Leyte, Philippine IslandsAge 25. Company A, 306th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- Resting placeA.B.M.C. Manila CemeteryManila
Biography
George Benjamin Jr. (April 24, 1919 – December 22, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a posthumous recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Philippines campaign of World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “George Benjamin Jr.”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
