William A. Foster

Infobox Military Person
name= William Adelbert Foster
born= birth date|1917|2|17
died= death date and age|1945|5|2|1917|2|17
placeofbirth= Cleveland, Ohio
placeofdeath= KIA in Okinawa, Japan
placeofburial=


caption= William A. Foster, Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= (6 years Ohio National Guard) 1944-1945 (USMC)
rank= Private First Class
commands=
unit= 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines
battles=World War II *Battle of Okinawa
awards= Medal of Honor (1945) Purple Heart
laterwork=

William Adlebert Foster (February 17, 1917–May 2, 1945) was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" during World War II during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

Early years

William Foster was born in Garfield Heights, Ohio on February 17, 1917. Following graduation from vocational high school, where he majored in machinist's subjects, he was employed as a planner and shaper at Cleveland's Star Machine and Tool Company. A veteran of six year's service in the Ohio National Guard, Foster was enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve through Selective Service on April 1, 1944.

Foster received his basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. In late September 1944, after intensive combat training at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, he embarked for overseas duty on board the USS "General C.G. Morton" bound for the Russell Islands in the Solomon group. There he joined his regular unit — Company K, 3rd Battalion 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.

Heroism on Okinawa

He landed with his unit on Okinawa, Japan on April 1, 1945, the first anniversary of his enlistment in the Marine Corps. In combat for the first time at Okinawa, PFC Foster performed an act of heroism on May 2, 1945 which earned for him the nation's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor.

Dug in with another Marine, he and his comrade engaged in a fierce hand grenade duel with infiltrating enemy soldiers. When a Japanese grenade landed beyond reach in their foxhole, Private First Class Foster, with complete disregard for his personal safety, dove on it and absorbed its full explosion with his own body, thus protecting the other Marine from serious injury. When mortally wounded, he handed his two remaining grenades to his comrade and said, "Make them count…" Miraculously, he survived the explosion. Gravely wounded, he was brought to medical care where he died of his injuries.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, PFC Foster was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart; Presidential Unit Citation with one star; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Private First Class Foster was initially interred in the 1st Marine Division cemetery on Okinawa. On March 5, 1949, his remains were reinterred in the Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland.

Medal of Honor citation

On August 19, 1946, Gen Alexander A. Vandegrift, then Commandant of the Marine Corps, presented the Medal of Honor to his parents in a ceremony at the City Hall in Cleveland. In the words of the accompanying citation, presented by President Harry S. Truman, "… he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow Marine might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy…"

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WILLIAM A. FOSTER UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
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 as a Rifleman with Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryūkyū Chain, May 2, 1945. Dug in with another Marine on the point of the perimeter defense after waging a furious assault against a strongly fortified Japanese position, Private First Class Foster and comrade engaged in a fierce hand grenade duel with infiltrating enemy soldiers. Suddenly an enemy grenade landed beyond reach in the foxhole. Instantly diving on the deadly missile, Private First Class Foster absorbed the exploding charge in his own body, thereby protecting the other Marine from serious injury. Although mortally wounded as a result of his heroic action, he quickly rallied, handed his own remaining two grenades to his comrade and said, "Make them count." Stouthearted and indomitable, he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow Marine might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy, and his dauntless determination, cool decision and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Foster and in the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN

Dedications

In 1957, William Foster Elementary opened in his hometown of Garfield Heights. It publicly educates grades K-3.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web
accessdate=2007-11-03
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Foster_WA.htm Official Marine Corps biography
title=William A. Foster
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa30074d96c?OpenDocument
title=Medal of Honor — PFC William A. Foster (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archivedate=2006-06-13
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060613235813/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa30074d96c?OpenDocument

*findagrave|5747283. Retrieved on 2007-10-27

Further reading

*cite book
accessdate=2007-11-03
url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/sec7.htm
title=The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa
author=Alexander, Colonel Joseph H., USMC (Ret)
series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series
publisher=History and Museums Division, United States Marine Corps
location=Washington, D.C.
year=1995

Persondata
NAME= Foster, William A.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=