Samuel Gross (Medal of Honor) explained

Samuel Gross
Birth Date:9 May 1891
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Placeofburial:Har Nebo Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Placeofburial Label:Place of burial
Branch: United States Marine Corps
Serviceyears:1913–1918
Rank:Corporal
Unit:2nd Marine Regiment
Battles:Banana Wars

World War I

Awards:Medal of Honor

Samuel Gross (originally Samuel Marguiles) (May 9, 1891 – September 13, 1934) was a Private in the United States Marine Corps, 23d Company who earned the Medal of Honor for his efforts during the United States occupation of Haiti in 1915.

Biography

Gross was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the United States occupation of Haiti, he participated in battles against the Caco bandit insurgency. During the battle for Fort Riviere, he saved the life of Smedley Butler, who also was a Medal of Honor recipient and was one of only 19 people to receive 2 Medals of Honor.

He died September 9, 1934, and is buried in Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia.[1]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 23d Co. (Real name is Marguiles, Samuel.) Born: May 9, 1891, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania.

Citation:

In company with members of the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and the marine and sailor detachment from the, Gross participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, November 17, 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Gross was the second man to pass through the breach in the face of constant fire from the Cacos and, thereafter, for a 10-minute period, engaged the enemy in desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.[2]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.vconline.org.uk/samuel-gross/4593038233 vconline.org.uk
  2. Web site: December 9, 2007 . Samuel Gross, Medal of Honor recipient . United States occupation of Haiti (1915) . . June 8, 2009.