Troy A. McGill

Infobox Military Person
name=Troy A. McGill
born=birth date|1914|7|15
died=death date and age|1944|3|4|1914|7|15
placeofbirth=Knoxville, Tennessee
placeofdeath=Los Negros Island
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Sergeant
commands=
unit=5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
battles=World War II
*Admiralty Islands campaign
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Troy A. McGill (July 15 1914 – March 4 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Admiralty Islands campaign of World War II.

Biography

McGill joined the Army from Ada, Oklahoma, and by March 4 1944 was serving as a Sergeant in Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. During an enemy attack on that day, on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, he held his ground against the numerically superior force. After ordering the only other un-wounded man in his squad to retreat, he continued to hold his position alone and eventually engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat until he was killed. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on September 11 1944.

McGill, aged 29 at his death, was buried at Knoxville National Cemetery in his birth city of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Medal of Honor citation

Sergeant McGill's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Los Negros Island, Admiralty Group, on 4 March 1944. In the early morning hours Sgt. McGill, with a squad of 8 men, occupied a revetment which bore the brunt of a furious attack by approximately 200 drink-crazed enemy troops. Although covered by crossfire from machineguns on the right and left flank he could receive no support from the remainder of our troops stationed at his rear. All members of the squad were killed or wounded except Sgt. McGill and another man, whom he ordered to return to the next revetment. Courageously resolved to hold his position at all cost, he fired his weapon until it ceased to function. Then, with the enemy only 5 yards away, he charged from his foxhole in the face of certain death and clubbed the enemy with his rifle in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. At dawn 105 enemy dead were found around his position. Sgt. McGill's intrepid stand was an inspiration to his comrades and a decisive factor in the defeat of a fanatical enemy.

ee also

References

*findagrave|7874941 Retrieved on 2008-07-03
accessdate = 2008-01-03

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (M-S)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16 2007
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/wwII-m-s.html
accessdate = 2008-01-03