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| Cpl. Braney Sterling, 1st Marine Division, earned the Navy Cross for action at the Battle of the Tenaru. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134870553/barney-sterling https://www.flickr.com/photos/usmcarchives/36545717782 |
Barney Sterling never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on August 26, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents Nathan and Claire Brodsky were both born in Russia. Barney was listed as a Brodsky for the 1920 and 1930 census. I don't know why Barney ended up with a different last name on his military record. His mother was 16 when he was born. Perhaps he had a different biological father. The father who raised him worked as a lady's tailor. Barney had one younger sister. By 1940 Nathan had completed three years of high school.
He volunteered for the US Marines in October 1940. He became a corporal in Company H, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. The 1st Marine Regiment was one of the first American units to take the fight to the enemy when it landed on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. The Marines quickly captured Henderson Field and set up defensive positions to defend it from Japanese counterattack.
On August 19, the Japanese dropped off an elite unit of about 900 men. Although instructed to wait until more troops arrived, the Japanese commander was confident his seasoned battle-tested men could easily overrun the novice Americans. He was proved tragically wrong.
As they advanced west to attack the Americans, the Japanese were surprised to find them well positioned much closer than the anticipated at the Tenaru River. The frontal assaults were no match for American machine-gun positions. By morning the entire Japanese force was completely defeated. Only 30 men got away. It did not stop the Japanese wounded and dying from continuing to shoot at Marines rendering them aid. Only 15 Japanese were captured. Cpl. Sterling was one of less than four dozen Americans killed in the battle. For his actions he was awarded the Navy Cross.
Cpl. Sterling's citation is as follows:
Performing patrol duty and armed only with a rifle when an overwhelming Japanese landing force launched a furious attack, Private First Class Sterling, together with two other Marines, promptly deployed and held off the enemy in their sector by fierce and desperate fighting.
Valiantly carrying on after enemy fire had killed one of the group, Private First Class Sterling manned a light machine gun and maintained his unyielding defense of our positions in spite of terrific odds until he, too, was killed.
His dauntless spirit of self-sacrifice and his unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great peril sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Thank you Cpl. Sterling for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Barney.
Last year on this date I profiled Auville Eager, 45th Infantry Division. You can read about here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
His grave is at Wellwood Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.
Last year on this date I profiled Auville Eager, 45th Infantry Division. You can read about here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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