"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company H, Third
Battalion, Twenty-ninth Marines, Sixth Marine Division, in action
against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa in the Ryūkyū Chain,
June 7, 1945. Alert and ready for any hostile counteraction following
his company's seizure of an important hill-objective Private McTureous
was quick to observe the plight of company stretcher-bearers who were
suddenly assailed by slashing machine-gun fire as they attempted to
evacuate wounded at the rear of the nearby won position. Determined to
prevent further casualties, he quickly filled his shirt with hand
grenades and charged the enemy-occupied caves from which the
concentrated barrage was emanating. Coolly disregarding all personal
danger as he waged his furious one-man assault, he smashed grenades into
the cave entrances, thereby diverting the heaviest fire from the
stretcher-bearers to his own person and, resolutely returning to his own
lines under a blanketing hail of rifle and machine-gun fire to
replenish his supply of grenades, dauntlessly continued his systematic
reduction of Japanese strength until he himself sustained serious wounds
after silencing a large number of the hostile guns. Aware of his own
critical condition and unwilling to further endanger the lives of his
comrades, he stoically crawled a distance of two hundred yards to a
sheltered position within friendly lines before calling for aid. By his
fearless initiative and bold tactics, Private McTureous had succeeded in
neutralizing the enemy fire, killing six of the Japanese and
effectively disorganizing the remainder of the savagely defending
garrison. His outstanding valor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice
during a critical stage of operations reflect the highest credit upon
himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
"
From Pvt. McTureous Jr.'s Medal of Honor citation, awarded on August 7, 1946.
May you be at peace,
Brian
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