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| Sgt. Robert McCard was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Saipan. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7799231https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._McCard |
Robert was born on November 25, 1918 in Syracuse, New York. His parents Frank and Edna were also both born in New York. He had one older brother. His father was a plumber. He completed two years of high school, and played both football and baseball, and was employed as a bartender at the Bear Mountain Inn at Iona, New York.
Robert enlisted in the Marine Corps on December 18, 1939. Upon completion of training, he reported for sea duty on board USS Tuscaloosa and served a year at sea. Following sea duty, he completed several recruiting and training assignments and progressed in rank to corporal. At some point, he met and married his wife, the former Lizette Bauer.
In April 1943, he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Fourth Tank Battalion, Fourth Marine Division, then based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In January 1944, the Fourth Marine Division shipped out for duty in the Pacific, where Sergeant McCard participated in the invasion of Kwajalein and took part in the battles of Ennugaret, Ennumennett, and Namur Islands. He was promoted to gunnery sergeant in May 1944.
He served as platoon sergeant with Company A, Fourth Tank Battalion, Fourth Marine Division, during the battle of Saipan, where he was killed in action on June 16, 1944. For his supreme sacrifice, Gunnery Sergeant McCard was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
His citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Platoon Sergeant of Company A, Fourth Tank Battalion, Fourth Marine Division, during the battle for enemy Japanese-held Saipan, Mariana Islands, on June 16, 1944.
Cut off from the other units of his platoon when his tank was put out of action by a battery of enemy 77-mm. guns, Gunnery Sergeant McCard carried on resolutely, bringing all the tank's weapons to bear on the enemy, until the severity of hostile fire caused him to order his crew out the escape hatch while he courageously exposed himself to enemy guns by hurling hand grenades, in order to cover the evacuation of his men.
Seriously wounded during this action and with his supply of grenades exhausted, Gunnery Sergeant McCard dismantled one of the Tank's machine guns and faced the Japanese for the second time to deliver vigorous fire into positions, destroying sixteen of the enemy but sacrificing himself to ensure the safety of his crew.
His valiant fighting spirit and supreme loyalty in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant McCard and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
The medal was presented to his widow Lizette McCard at Centralia, Illinois, on 10 April 1945 by the Commandant of the 9th Naval District.
Robert Howard McCard was buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery at Saipan, and later reinterred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. His wife Lizette died in 1971.
Thank you Robert for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.
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This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled B-17 pilot Harry Cook of the 303rd Bomb Group. You can read about Harry here.
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So many heroes from this terrible war. Today most students and people in their early twenties do not know what countries fought against each other. so sad the liberal leaning academia omits all mention of our historic military past.
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