- Henry A. Commiskey, Sr.
Infobox Military Person
name= Henry Alfred Commiskey, Sr.
born= Birth date|1927|1|10
died= Death date and age|1971|8|15|1927|1|10
placeofbirth=Hattiesburg, Mississippi
placeofdeath=Meridian, Mississippi
placeofburial=
caption= Henry A. Commiskey, Sr., Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1944-1966
rank= Major
commands=
unit=1st Battalion 1st Marines Marine Attack Squadron 212
battles=World War II -Battle of Iwo Jima Korean War -Battle of Inchon
awards=Medal of Honor Purple Heart
laterwork=Major Henry Alfred Commiskey, Sr. (January 10, 1927–August 15, 1971) was a United States Marine who served duringWorld War II at theBattle of Iwo Jima and in theKorean War in the Inchon landing. As a first lieutenant, he was the first Marine to receive theMedal of Honor — the nation's highest decoration for valor — for extraordinary heroism in the Korean conflict, leading a charge up a hill and killing seven enemy soldiers in hand to hand combat.Biography
Henry Commiskey was born on January 10, 1927, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He attended Sacred Heart School in Hattiesburg and worked as a brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad before joining the Marine Corps on January 12, 1944, two days after his 17th birthday.cite web
accessdate=2007-10-14
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Commiskey_HA.htm
title=Major Henry Alfred Commiskey, Sr., USMC
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps]Commiskey served in the enlisted ranks more than five years, including 21 months overseas.
He completed his
recruit training at in San Diego, California. He then served at Camp Pendleton; Hawaii; in thePacific Theatre duringWorld War II , and in Japan.World War II
During World War II, he was wounded in action during the Iwo Jima campaign — for which received the Letter of Commendation for “exhibiting high qualities of leadership and courage in the face of a stubborn and fanatical enemy."
Commiskey also had been a
drill instructor at theMarine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , South Carolina. He was serving there, with the rank of staff sergeant, when he was accepted for officer training and commissioned a second lieutenant on September 10, 1949. He completed training in June 1950, and taught in the tactics section at the Marine Corps Schools Quantico, Virginia, before going to Korea with the 1st Marines in August 1950.Korean War - Medal of Honor action
The action for which 1stLt Commiskey received the Medal of Honor came a few days after the Inchon landing, in which he participated.
The action occurred on September 20, 1950 near Yongdungpo, Korea, on the outskirts of Seoul. Although Major Commiskey, then a second lieutenant, escaped harm then, he was wounded a week later, and again on December 8, 1950, after which he was returned to the U.S. for hospitalization. He escaped injury during this action, but was wounded a week later, and again on December 8, 1950, after which he was returned to the U.S. for hospitalization.
Following hospitalization at the Naval Hospital in Pensacola, 1stLt Commiskey served at the
Naval Air Rocket Test Station ,Lake Denmark , Morris County, New Jersey.He was promoted to first lieutenant in June, 1951.
On August 1, 1951, he was presented the nation's highest decoration for valor by President
Harry S. Truman in aWhite House ceremony for his actions on September 20, 1950 near Yongdungpo,Korea , on the outskirts ofSeoul .cite web|accessdate=2007-10-14
url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889149,00.html?promoid=googlep
title=One for the Marines
date=August 13, 1951
work=TIME Magazine]Aviator
In September 1951, he became a Student Naval Aviator at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola. He received his wings at Corpus Christi in June 1953, and later completed jet training at El Toro, California. He was promoted to captain in July 1953.
In April 1954, he returned to Korea as a pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 212,
Marine Aircraft Group 12 ,1st Marine Aircraft Wing .1954-1966
He returned to the United States in September 1954, and at his own request was assigned line duty. He joined the 1st Marine Division in December 1954, and served consecutively as a company commander, Assistant S-3 of the 1st Service Regiment, and Division Reenlistment Officer. From September 1956 until July 1959, he served as Officer in Charge of the Marine Corps Recruiting Station, 6th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District, Jackson, Mississippi. He was promoted to major in July 1959.
Major Commiskey completed the Junior Course at the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in June 1960, then served as an instructor, student company commander and Executive Officer,
The Basic School , Quantico. Prior to his retirement from active duty in August 1966, he served as a recruiter.Commiskey died on August 15, 1971, in
Meridian, Mississippi and was cremated. The location of his ashes is unknown.findagrave|7855277Retrieved on2007-11-11 ]Awards and honors
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
FIRST LIEUTENANT HENRY A. COMMISKEY 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 a Platoon Leader in Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces near Yongdungp'o, Korea, on 20 September 1950. Directed to attack hostile forces well dug in on Hill 85, First Lieutenant Commiskey, then Second Lieutenant, spearheaded the assault, charging up the steep slopes on the run. Coolly disregarding the heavy enemy machine-gun and small-arms fire, he plunged on well forward of the rest of his platoon and was the first man to reach the crest of the objective. Armed only with a pistol, he jumped into a hostile machine-gun emplacement occupied by five enemy troops and quickly disposed of four of the soldiers with his automatic pistol. Grappling with the fifth, First Lieutenant Commiskey knocked him to the ground and held him until he could obtain a weapon from another member of his platoon and kill the last of the enemy gun crew. Continuing his bold assault, he moved to the next emplacement, killed two or more of the enemy and then led his platoon toward the rear nose of the hill to rout the remainder of the enemy. His valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to inspire the men of his company to heroic endeavor in seizing the objective and reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Commiskey and the United States Naval Service.cite web
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
accessdate=2007-06-11
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa2006d9908?OpenDocument
title=1stLt Henry A. Commiskey, Medal of Honor, 1950, 1/1/1, Korea] (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070220212928/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa2006d9908?OpenDocument
archivedate=2007-02-20]Military decorations
Maj Commiskey was awarded the following decorations:
*
* (with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards)
*
Presidential Unit Citation (United States) (with two bronze stars)* Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
* (with one bronze star)
*
* (with Asia clasp)
*
National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze star)* (with three bronze stars)
*
* Korean Presidential Unit Citation
*
Foreign Awards
*the Letter of Commendation with Ribbon and Metal Pendant
Namesake
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