Ben L. Salomon
Benjamin L. Salomon | |
---|---|
Born | South Pacific Mandate | September 1, 1914
Place of burial | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1940–1944 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment 27th Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Benjamin Lewis Salomon (September 1, 1914 – July 7, 1944) was a
Biography
Salomon was born in a Jewish family in
In 1940, he was
In June 1944, Salomon saw his first combat — going ashore on Saipan with the 105th Infantry. With little dental work to do during active combat, Salomon volunteered to replace the 2nd Battalion's surgeon, who had been wounded. As the 2nd Battalion advanced, casualties were high. On July 7, Salomon's aid station was set up only 50
When an Army team returned to the site days later, Salomon's body was found slumped over the machine gun, with the bodies of 98 enemy troops piled up in front of his position. His body had 76 bullet wounds and many bayonet wounds, up to 24 of which may have been received while he was still alive.[2][4]
Medal of Honor recognition
Capt. Edmund G. Love, the 27th Division historian, was a part of the team that found Salomon's body. At the request of Brig. Gen. Ogden J. Ross, the assistant commander of the 27th Division, Love gathered eyewitness accounts and prepared a recommendation for the Medal of Honor for Salomon.
The recommendation was returned by Maj. Gen.
In 1951, Love again resubmitted the recommendation through the
In 1998, the recommendation was re-submitted by Dr. Robert West (USC Dental School) through Congressman Brad Sherman,[6] with the support of Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sculley, new chief of the Army Dental Corps.[7] Finally, on May 1, 2002, President George W. Bush presented Salomon's Medal of Honor to Dr. West.[8] West then presented the Medal to Sculley for permanent placement in the Army Medical Department Museum in San Antonio, Texas.[7][2] A replica of Salomon's Medal of Honor is displayed at the USC Dental School.[7][9] The Army Medical Department, at this point, was supportive.
Medal of Honor citation
UNITED STATES ARMY
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Captain Ben L. Salomon was serving at Saipan, in the
Marianas Islands on July 7, 1944, as the Surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. The Regiment’s 1st and 2d Battalions were attacked by an overwhelming force estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 Japanese soldiers. It was one of the largest attacks attempted in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Although both units fought furiously, the enemy soon penetrated the Battalions’ combined perimeter and inflicted overwhelming casualties. In the first minutes of the attack, approximately 30 wounded soldiers walked, crawled, or were carried into Captain Salomon’s aid station, and the small tent soon filled with wounded men. As the perimeter began to be overrun, it became increasingly difficult for Captain Salomon to work on the wounded. He then saw a Japanese soldier bayoneting one of the wounded soldiers lying near the tent. Firing from a squatting position, Captain Salomon quickly killed the enemy soldier. Then, as he turned his attention back to the wounded, two more Japanese soldiers appeared in the front entrance of the tent. As these enemy soldiers were killed, four more crawled under the tent walls. Rushing them, Captain Salomon kicked the knife out of the hand of one, shot another, and bayoneted a third. Captain Salomon butted the fourth enemy soldier in the stomach and a wounded comrade then shot and killed the enemy soldier. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Captain Salomon ordered the wounded to make their way as best they could back to the regimental aid station, while he attempted to hold off the enemy until they were clear. Captain Salomon then grabbed a rifle from one of the wounded and rushed out of the tent. After four men were killed while manning a machine gun, Captain Salomon took control of it. When his body was later found, 98 dead enemy soldiers were piled in front of his position. Captain Salomon’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Awards
Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | American Defense Service Medal |
American Campaign Medal | campaign star
|
World War II Victory Medal |
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Jewish Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
References
- OCLC 1777821.
During the 100 years that officers have been eligible, two dental officers have been awarded the Medal: Alexander Gordan Lyle and ...
- ^ a b c d e f William T. Bowers. "Ben Salomon". Medal of Honor recipients: United States Army Medical Department. Office of Medical History, Office of the Surgeon General. Archived from the original on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
- ^ Biederman, Patricia Ward (May 5, 2012). "A Heroic World War II Dentist Finally Gets His Due". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
- ^ "News Stories from the Archives". homeofheroes.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ Section 223, “Conditions Not Depriving Medical Units and Establishments of Protection”
- ^ Congressman Brad Sherman (May 1, 2006). "Sherman Instrumental in Awarding Medal of Honor, President Presents Constituent With Fallen Hero's Medal". Press Release, Office of Congressman Brad Sherman. Archived from the original on July 4, 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
- ^ a b c Collette Knittel (September 2002). "Dentist Hero Finally Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor". Journal of the California Dental Association. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
- ^ Bush, George W. (May 1, 2002). "Remarks on presenting the congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Captain Ben L. Salomon and Captain Jon E. Swanson". Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Archived from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
- ^ Seymour “Sy” Brody. "Capt. Ben L. Salomon: Jewish Medal of Honor recipient in World War II". Jewish Heroes in America. Archived from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
External links
- "Ben L. Salomon, MOH Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
- Collette Knittel (September 2002). "Dentist Hero Finally Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor". Journal of the California Dental Association. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
- "Ben L. Salomon". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- "Ben L. Salomon - Jewish Medal of Honor Recipient". J-Grit: The Internet Index of Tough Jews.