George H. Ramer
George Henry Ramer | |
---|---|
Second lieutenant | |
Unit | 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Second Lieutenant Ramer, who had been an enlisted
When the enemy immediately began an overwhelming counter-attack, he ordered his men to withdraw and fought single-handedly to cover the withdrawal and the evacuation of three fatally wounded Marines. Wounded a second time, he refused aid, ordered his men to shelter and continued to fight until he was fatally wounded as the enemy overran his position.
Biography
George Henry Ramer was born on March 27, 1927, in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. He attended elementary school in Salisbury, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Lewisburg High School in 1944 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the navy on August 11, 1944, and served until June 5, 1946.
Upon his return to civilian life, he entered
Completing the
His remains were returned to the United States in December 1951 and interred in Lewisburg Cemetery, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
The Medal of Honor was presented to his widow on January 7, 1953, by
In addition to the Medal of Honor and the
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of the Third Platoon in Company I, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced) in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 12 September 1951. Ordered to attack and seize hostile positions atop a hill, vigorously defended by well entrenched enemy forces delivering massed small-arms, mortar and machine-gun fire, Second Lieutenant Ramer fearlessly led his men up the steep slopes and, although he and the majority of his unit were wounded during the ascent, boldly continued to spearhead the assault. With the terrain becoming more precipitous near the summit and the climb more perilous as the hostile forces added grenades to the devastating hail of fire, he staunchly carried the attack to the top, personally annihilated one enemy bunker with
grenade and carbine fire and captured the objective with his remaining eight men. Unable to hold the position against an immediate, overwhelming hostile counterattack, he ordered his group to withdraw and single-handedly fought the enemy to furnish cover for his men and for the evacuation of three fatally wounded Marines. Severely wounded a second time, Second Lieutenant Ramer refused aid when his men returned to help him and, after ordering them to seek shelter, courageously manned his post until the hostile troops overran his position and he fell mortally wounded. His indomitable fighting spirit, inspiring leadership and unselfish concern for others in the face of death reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Ramer and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
In honor
Ramer Hall, dedicated to 2ndLt Ramer, is a combat conditioning facility, at The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, which was opened in 1963.[2]
See also
References
- Inline
- ^ "Phi Gamma Delta's "Gold Star" men in Korea". The Archives. The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Archived from the original on August 13, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2006.
- ^ "Welcome Aboard โ Officer Student SOP for the Basic School" (doc). The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved July 1, 2006.[permanent dead link]
- General
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Second Lieutenant George H. Ramer, USMCR, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-07-01". Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- "2dLt George H. Ramer, Medal of Honor, 1951, 3/7/1, Korea, Medal of Honor citation. Retrieved on 2006-07-01". Archived from the original on July 14, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
External links
- "George H. Ramer". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- "Medals of Honor (7th Marines)". Twentynine Palms, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on June 4, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-19.