- Robert H. McCard
Infobox Military Person
name= Robert H. McCard
born= birth date|1918|11|25
died= death date and age|1944|6|16|1918|11|25
placeofbirth=Syracuse, New York
placeofdeath=Killed in action inSaipan
placeofburial=
caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1939–1944
rank=Gunnery Sergeant
commands=
unit=4th Tank Battalion
battles=Battle of Saipan
awards=Medal of Honor
laterwork=Gunnery Sergeant Robert Howard McCard (November 25, 1918 – June 16, 1944), aUnited States Marine , was awarded theMedal of Honor (posthumously) for his actions during theBattle of Saipan duringWorld War II .Biography
Robert Howard McCard, born at
Syracuse, New York , November 25, 1918, enlisted in the Marine Corps December 18, 1939. He was subsequently assigned to Parris Island,South Carolina ;Norfolk Navy Yard ; "Tuscaloosa" (CA-37),New York Navy Yard ;U.S. Naval Torpedo Station ,Newport, R.I. ; and Central Recruiting Division,Chicago, Illinois . Shortly after the United States declaredwar againstJapan in 1941, he was assigned to the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes,Illinois ; then the Training Center, Quantico,Virginia ; Camp Lejeune,North Carolina ; and Camp Pendleton,California . He served in the field from January 31, 1944 until he waskilled in action atSaipan on June 16, 1944.Medal of Honor citation
The
President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
GUNNERY SERGEANT ROBERT H. MCCARD UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION::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 grenade s, 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.Posthumous honors
In 1945, the USS "Robert H. McCard" (DD-822), a "Gearing"-class
destroyer , was named in his honor.ee also
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients References
:"This article includes text in the
public domain from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and from the United States Marine Corps."
*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r7/robert_h_mccard.htm
title=Robert H. McCard
work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
publisher=Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy
date=October 14, 2005
*cite web|accessdate=2007-12-29
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/McCard_RH.htm
title=Gunnery Sergeant Robert Howard McCard, USMC
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.marines.mil/moh.nsf/0/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4004f0d12?OpenDocument
title=Medal of Honor - GySgt Robert H. McCard (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060613230558/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4004f0d12?OpenDocument
archivedate=2006-06-13
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