Technical Sergeant John William Meagher, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 19, 1945 near Ozato, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with 2d Platoon, Company E, 2d Battalion, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Meagher was 27 years old.
The medal was presented on June 14, 1946 — the White House (lawn), presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman.
Meagher was born on December 5, 1917 in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. Meagher died on April 14, 1996 in Lyons, New Jersey, at the age of 78. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Meagher 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 displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. In the heat of the fight, he mounted an assault tank, and, with bullets splattering about him, designated targets to the gunner. Seeing an enemy soldier carrying an explosive charge dash for the tank treads, he shouted fire orders to the gunner, leaped from the tank, and bayonetted the charging soldier. Knocked unconscious and his rifle destroyed, he regained consciousness, secured a machine gun from the tank, and began a furious one-man assault on the enemy. Firing from his hip, moving through vicious crossfire that ripped through his clothing, he charged the nearest pillbox, killing six. Going on amid the hail of bullets and grenades, he dashed for a second enemy gun, running out of ammunition just as he reached the position. He grasped his empty gun by the barrel and in a violent onslaught killed the crew. By his fearless assault T/Sgt. Meagher singlehandedly broke the enemy resistance, enabling his platoon to take its objective and continue the advance.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- December 5, 1917Born in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
- June 19, 1945Act of valor — near Ozato, Okinawa, Ryukyu IslandsAge 27. 2d Platoon, Company E, 2d Battalion, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division
- June 14, 1946Medal of Honor presentedThe White House (lawn), presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman
- April 14, 1996Died in Lyons, New JerseyAge 78.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
John William Meagher (December 5, 1917 – April 14, 1996) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. Meagher joined the Army from his birthplace of Jersey City, New Jersey, and by June 19, 1945, was serving as a technical sergeant in Company E, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. On that day, near Ōzato, Okinawa, he prevented the tank he was riding on from being disabled by an enemy soldier and then single-handedly destroyed two enemy positions. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor one year later, on June 26, 1946.
From the Wikipedia article “John W. Meagher”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
