This is a complete list of Marines from the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment who have been awarded any of the United States's three highest military decorations for valor in combatthe Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, or the Silver Star. A after a recipient's name indicates that the award was given posthumously.
World War II
Eight Marines from 3rd Battalion were awarded the Medal of Honor (1) or the Navy Cross (7) during World War II; six of these medals (Navy Crosses) were for actions during the Bougainville campaign and the other two (the Medal of Honor and one Navy Cross) were for actions during the Battle of Guam.
Medal of Honor
Private Luther Skaggs Jr. received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on the beachhead on Guam during World War II. After the section leader became a casualty, Skaggs took over command and led the section through heavy enemy fire. Although wounded by a Japanese grenade that shattered the lower part of his leg, he continued to defend for a further eight hours through the night.
Navy Cross James Beck Rank and billet: Private, Rifleman Organization: Company K Date and place of action: 1943-11-22, Piva Forks, Bougainville Island Entered service: Unknown Birth: Unknown
Ralph Houser Rank and billet: Lieutenant Colonel, Battalion Commander Organization: H&S Company Date and place of action: 1944-07-21 - 1944-07-23, Asan-Adelup Beachead, Guam Entered service: 1935, Quantico, Virginia Birth: 1914, Iowa City, Iowa Death: 2001, Reston, Virginia
John Logan, Jr. Rank and billet: Corporal, Squad Leader Organization: Company L Date and place of action: 1943-11-24, Piva Forks, Bougainville Island Entered service: Pittsburgh Birth: Washington, D.C. Death: 1943, Bougainville
Vernon Miller Rank and billet: 1st Lieutenant, Platoon Commander Organization: Machine Gun Platoon, Company K Date and place of action: 1944-07-21 - 1944-07-23, Asan-Adelup Beachead, Guam Entered service: Birth: Death:
Paul Torian Rank and billet: Captain, Company Commander Organization: Company K Date and place of action: 1943-11-24, Piva Forks, Bougainville Island Entered service: Evansville, Indiana Birth: 1920, Evansville, Indiana Death: 2004Paul T. Torian
Robert Turnbull Rank and billet: Captain, Company Commander Organization: Company L Date and place of action: 1943-11-24, Piva Forks, Bougainville Island Entered service: Lawrenceville, Virginia Birth: Lawrenceville, Virginia Death: 1943, Bougainville campaign
James Luther Lee Jnr Citation: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 328 (July 1944) Rank: Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Company: Corpsman Date and place of action: 1943-11-21, Piva Forks, Bougainville Island Entered service: Austin, Texas Born: September 8, 1924 at Fiskville, Texas Hometown: Round Rock, Texas Death: Killed in Action 1943-11-21, Piva Forks, Bougainville Island
Vietnam War
Medal of Honor
Ronald L. Coker Rank and billet: Private First Class, Rifleman Organization: Company M Date and place of action: 1969-03-24, Quảng Trị province, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: 1968-04-16, Denver Birth: 1947-08-09, Alliance, Nebraska Death: 1969-03-24, Quảng Trị province
Robert O'Malley Rank and billet: Corporal, Squad Leader Organization: Company I Date and place of action: 1965-08-18, Operation Starlite, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: 1961-10-11, New York City Birth: 1943-06-03, New York City Death: N/A
William Prom Rank and billet: Lance Corporal, Machine Gunner Organization: Machine Gun Section, Company I Date and place of action: 1969-02-09, Near An Hoa, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: 1967-12-27, Pittsburgh Birth: 1948-11-17, Pittsburgh Death: 1969-02-09, Near Hội An
Navy Cross
Joseph MuirRadcliff, Donald G Rank and billet: Lieutenant Colonel, Battalion Commander Organization: H&S Company Date and place of action: 1965-08-18 to 1965-08-24, Operation Starlite, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Unknown Birth: 1948-06-08, New York City Death: 1965-09-11, Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam
Bruce Webb Rank and billet: Captain, Company Commander Organization: Company I Date and place of action: 1965-08-18, Operation Starlite, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Unknown Birth: 1933-11-10, Wheaton, Illinois Death: 1965-08-18, Republic of Vietnam
James Mulloy Rank and billet: Sergeant, Supply NCO Organization: H&S Company Date and place of action: 1965-08-18, Operation Starlite, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Unknown Birth: Unknown Death:
Robert Moe Rank and billet: Staff Sergeant, Platoon Commander Organization: Company L, 3rd Platoon Date and place of action: 1965-12-09, Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Unknown Birth: Unknown Death:
Grover DicksonGrover Dickson, CPL, Marine Corps, New Orleans LA, 11Nov66 12E054 - The Virtual Wall Rank and billet: Corporal, Squad Leader Organization: Company K, 2nd Platoon Date and place of action: 1966-11-11, Operation Prairie, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: New Orleans Birth: 1938-03-15, Fort Worth, Texas Death: 1966-11-11, Republic of Vietnam
James KellyJames Kelly, CPL, Marine Corps, Sacramento CA, 24Mar67 17E036 - The Virtual Wall Rank and billet: Corporal, Grenadier Organization: Company I Date and place of action: 1967-03-24, An Hoa, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Sacramento, California Birth: 1945-03-12 Death: 1967-03-24, Republic of Vietnam
Louis Pichon Rank and billet: Gunnery Sergeant, Company Gunnery Sergeant Organization: Company I Date and place of action: 1967-03-24, Cam Lo, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Slidell, Louisiana Birth: Unknown Death: 1967-03-24, Republic of Vietnam
Robert SchleyThe Virtual Wall - Robert Schley, CPL, Marine Corps, Oregon WI, 30Apr67 18E128 Rank and billet: Corporal, Machine Gun Team Leader Organization: Company M Date and place of action: 1967-04-30, Battle of Hill 881, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Unknown Birth: 1944-01-21, Oregon, Wisconsin Death: 1967-04-30, Republic of Vietnam
Terrance Meier Rank and billet: Staff Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant Organization: Company M, 2nd Platoon Date and place of action: 1967-07-21, Ca Lu, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Portland, Oregon Birth: Unknown Death: 1967-07-21, Republic of Vietnam
Robert Lee Quick Rank and billet: Private First Class, Rifleman Organization: Company K Date and place of action: 1968-02-07, Gio Linh, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Wallaceton, Pennsylvania Birth: Unknown Death: 1968-02-07, Republic of Vietnam
Edward DayEdward Day, LCPL, Marine Corps, Philadelphia PA, 26Aug68 46W028 - The Virtual Wall Rank and billet: Lance Corporal, Squad Leader Organization: Company L Date and place of action: 1968-08-26, The Rockpile, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Philadelphia Birth: 1949-07-12 Death: 1968-08-26, Republic of Vietnam
Vernon Yarber Rank and billet: Lance Corporal, Squad Leader Organization: Company L Date and place of action: 1968-08-26, The Rockpile, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Jacksonville, Florida Birth: Death: 1968-08-26, Republic of Vietnam
Robert Dalton Rank and billet: Corporal, Squad Leader Organization: Company K Date and place of action: 1969-05-25, Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Unknown Birth: Unknown Death:
Roger RosenbergerRoger Rosenberger, PFC, Marine Corps, Swartz Creek MI, 17Jun69 22W069 - The Virtual Wall Rank and billet: Private First Class, Rifleman Organization: Company M Date and place of action: 1969-06-17, Dong Ha, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Swartz Creek, Michigan Birth: 1950-07-29 Death: 1969-06-17, Republic of Vietnam
James McWhorter Rank and billet: Lance Corporal, Squad Leader Organization: Company L, 3rd Platoon Date and place of action: 1969-08-22, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Beaverton, Oregon Birth: Unknown Death: 1969-08-22, Republic of Vietnam
Terrence Kierznowski Rank and billet: Hospital Corpsman Second Class Organization: US Navy, attached to Company K Date and place of action: 1969-09-12, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam Entered service: Crete, Illinois Birth: Unknown Death: 1969-09-12, Republic of Vietnam
Silver Star Lance Corporal David W. Cutshall: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Team Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division. On 6 March 1968, during a company-size operation near Con Thien, Lance Corporal Cutshall's platoon came under intense enemy automatic weapons, mortar and artillery fire from a well entrenched battalion of North Vietnamese Army Regulars. Observing enemy movement through the brush, he marked the area with machine gun tracer rounds which enabled an anti-tank assault team to destroy an enemy bunker with rocket fire. Throughout the five-hour fire fight, he maintained a critical position and directed highly effective machine gun fire upon the enemy. Ordered to withdraw to a more advantageous position, he provided covering fire for his companions as they moved to join their platoon. While preparing to throw a hand grenade, Lance Corporal Cutshall was severely wounded by enemy grenade fragments which caused him to drop his grenade. Without regard for his own safety, he immediately fell upon the activated grenade to shield his companions. Although he was killed when it exploded, he undoubtedly saved the lives of his three companions. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Cutshall upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Lance Corporal Dennis Scalici, a fire team leader with Lima Company, received two Silver Stars within a four-month period.
Lance Corporal Timothy Gene Carter, Mortar Team Leader, was awarded the Silver Star along with 6 other medals posthumously (1969). Carter was the highest decorated Marine from Nevada of the Vietnam War. A mortar range in Hawthorne, Nevada, bears his name.
Sergeant Laurence Eugene Belko, with India Company, was awarded a Silver Star in May 1968 for coordinating a five-hour rescue of his comrades in Dong Ha, while wounded and under enemy fire.