Who?
According to https://www.history.navy.mil these are the soldiers who recived the medal of honor at iwo jima and what a few of them did.
- Berry, Charles J., corporal, USMC — 3 March 1945 (Posthumous award) Why did he receive it? "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Member of a Machine-Gun Crew, serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. Stationed in the front lines, Corporal Berry manned his weapon with alert readiness as he maintained a constant vigil with the other members of his gun crew during the hazardous night hours. When infiltrating Japanese soldiers launched a suprise attack shortly after midnight in an attempt to overrun his position, he engaged in a pitched hand-grenade duel, returning the dangerous weapons with prompt and deadly accuracy until an enemy grenade landed in the foxhole. Determined to save his comrades, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and immediately dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious injury. Stout-hearted and indomitable, Corporal Berry fearlessly yielded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless battle against a ruthless enemy and his superb valor and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."
- Caddy, William R., private first class, USMCR — 3 March 1945 (Posthumous award) Why did he receive it? "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945. Consistently aggressive, Private First Class Caddy boldly defied shattering Japanese machine-gun and small-arms fire to move forward with his platoon leader and another Marine during the determined advance of his company through an isolated sector and, gaining the comparative safety of a shell hole, took temporary cover with his comrades. Immediately pinned down by deadly sniper fire from a well-concealed position, he made several unsuccessful attempts to again move forward and then, joined by his platoon leader, engaged the enemy in a fierce exchange of hand grenades until a Japanese grenade fell beyond reach in a shell hole. Fearlessly disregarding all personal danger, Private First Class Caddy instantly dived on the deadly misile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious injury. Stout-hearted and indomitable, he unhesitatingly yielded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy. His dauntless courage and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Caddy and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his comrades."
- Chambers, Justice M., lieutenant colonel, USMCR — 22 March 1945
- Cole, Darrell S., sergeant, USMCR — 19 February 1945, (Posthumous award) He sacrificed his life in order to help our country.
- Dunlap, Robert H., captain, USMCR — 20-21 February 1945
- Gray, Ross F., sergeant, USMCR — 21 February 1945 (Posthumous award)
- Harrell, William G., sergeant, USMC — 3 March 1945, William G. Harrell received the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life on 3 March 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
- Herring, Rufus G., lieutenant (junior grade), USNR — 17 February 1945
- Jacobson, Douglas T., corporal, USMCR — 26 February 1945
- Julian, Joseph R., platoon sergeant, USMCR — 9 March 1945 (Posthumous award)
- La Belle, James D., private first class, USMCR— 8 March 1945 (Posthumous award), "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the Twenty-seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. Filling a gap in the front lines during a critical phase of the battle, Private First Class La-Belle had dug into a foxhole with two other Marines and, grimly aware of the enemy's presistent attempts to blast a way through our lines with hand grenades, applied himself with steady concentration to maintaining a sharply vigilant watch during the hazardous night hours. Suddenly a hostile grenade landed beyond reach in his foxhole. Quickly estimating the situation, he determined to save the others if possible, shouted a warning, and instantly dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and thereby protecting his comrades from serious injury. Stout-hearted and indomitable, he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy. His dauntless courage, cool decision and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class LaBelle and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."
- Leims, John H., second lieutenant, USMCR — 7 March 1945, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 7 March 1945. Launching a surprise attack against the rock-imbedded fortifications of a dominating Japanese hill position, Second Lieutenant Leims spurred his company forward with indomitable determination and, skillfully directing his assault platoons against the cave-emplaced enemy troops and heavily fortified pillboxes, succeeded in capturing the objective in the late afternoon. When it became apparent that his assault platoons were cut off in this newly won position, approximately 400 yards forward of the adjacent units and lacked all communication with the command post, he personally advanced and laid telephone lines across the isolating expanse of open, fire-swept terrain. Ordered to withdraw his command after he had joined his forward platoons, he immediately complied, adriotly effecting the withdrawal of his troops without incident. Upon arriving at the rear, he was informed that several casualties had been left at the abandoned ridge position beyond the front lines. Although suffering acutely from the strain and exhaustion of battle, he instantly went forward despite darkness and the slashing fury of hostile machine-gun fire, located and carried to safety one seriously wounded Marine and then, running the gantlet of enemy fire for the third time that night, again made his tortuous way into the bullet- ridden death trap and rescued another of his wounded men. A dauntless leader, concerned at all times for the welfare of his men, Second Lieutenant Leims soundly maintained the coordinated strength of his battle-wearied company under extremely difficult conditions and, by his bold tactics, sustained aggressiveness and heroic disregard of all personal danger, contributed essentially to the success of his division's operations against this vital Japanese base. His valiant conduct in the face of fanatic opposition sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
- Lucas, Jacklyn H., private first class, USMCR — 20 February 1945
- Lummus, Jack, first lieutenant, USMCR— 8 March 1945 (Posthumous award)
- Martin, Harry L., first lieutenant, USMCR — 26 March 1945 (Posthumous award)
- McCarthy, Joseph J., captain, USMCR — 21 February 1945
- Pierce, Francis J., pharmacist's mate first class, USN — 15-16 March 1945
- Phillips, George, private, USMCR — 14 March 1945 (Posthumous award)
- Ruhl, Donald J., private first class, USMCR— 19-21 February 1945 (Posthumous award)
- Sigler, Franklin E., private, USMCR — 14 March 1945
- Stein, Tony, corporal, USMCR — 19 February 1945 (Posthumous award)
- Wahlen, George E., pharmacist's mate second class, USN — 3 March 1945
- Walsh, William G., gunnery sergeant, USMCR — 27 February 1945 (Posthumous award)
- Watson, Wilson D., private, USMCR — 26-27 February 1945
- Williams, Hershel W., corporal, USMCR — 23 February 1945
- Williams, Jack, Pharmacist's Mate Third Class, USNR — 3 March 1945 (Posthumous award)
- Willis, John H., Pharmacist's Mate First Class, USN — 28 February 1945 (Posthumous award)