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| Lt. John Power was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism at the Battle of Namur. A monument in Worcester, Mass. memorializes his sacrifice. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/527202700100067787/?lp=true https://www.tracesofwar.nl/sights/68904/Monument-John-Vincent-Power.htm https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/wwii-medal-of-honor-recipients-marine-lieutenant-jack-power/ |
John "Jack" Vincent Power never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on November 20, 1918 in Massachusetts. His parents George and Margaret were also both born in Massachusetts. His father worked as a policeman. John had two older sisters, one older brother, and one younger sister. By 1940 John was still living at home and had completed one year of college at College of the Holy Cross. He graduated the next year.
Jack volunteered for the US Marine Corps on July 7, 1942. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on October 31. By August 1943 Jack had been promoted to first lieutenant and assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.
The 4th Marine Division left San Diego in January 1944 for the Marshall Islands. Lt. Power participated in the amphibious landing on Namur on February 1, 1944. His boat was the first to land. Over the first two hours, his men began taking heavy casualties from a Japanese pillbox. Lt. Power advanced on his own and was shot in the stomach while placing a demolition charge on the pillbox. One of his men, Pfc. John Cronin, ran forward to bring him back to the relative safety of an American fox hole. His rescuer was shot while retrieving Lt. Power. Both men had "million dollar wounds" and could have waited to be evacuated off of the beach. After Pfc. Cronin had treated Lt. Power's stomach wound as best he could, Lt. Power insisted on returning to the fighting to take out the pillbox and was killed in action. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
His Medal of Honor citation says:
Severely wounded in the stomach while setting a demolition charge on a Japanese pillbox, 1st Lt. Power was steadfast in his determination to remain in action. Protecting his wound with his left hand and firing with his right, he courageously advanced as another hostile position was taken under attack, fiercely charging the opening made by the explosion and emptying his carbine into the pillbox. While attempting to reload and continue the attack, 1st Lt. Power was shot again in the stomach and head and collapsed in the doorway.
His exceptional valor, fortitude and indomitable fighting spirit in the face of withering enemy fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Thank you Lt. Power for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Jack.
Last year on this date I profiled Captain John Nevins, who lost his live as the Marines defended Henderson Field from the Japanese on Guadalcanal. You can read about John 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
President Roosevelt personal presented the Medal of Honor to the Power family in November 1944. The destroyer USS Power was named in his honor.
His grave is at St. Johns Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Last year on this date I profiled Captain John Nevins, who lost his live as the Marines defended Henderson Field from the Japanese on Guadalcanal. You can read about John 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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