Charles L. McGaha (February 26, 1914Sources are inconsistent on McGaha's birth date. His government issued headstones give February 26, 1914 (see ), while the book "25th Infantry Division" gives February 27, 1914. – August 8, 1984) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Biography McGaha was born in the small town of Cosby in eastern TennesseeMcGaha's Medal of Honor citation incorrectly records his place of birth and enlistment as "Crosby", Tennessee. to Laura McGaha. His family had a long history of service in the United States military. In October 1937, at age 23, he traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, hoping to enlist in the United States Navy. The Navy recruiter, having filled his quota of enlistees, turned him away, so McGaha left for Knoxville to enlist in the United States Army instead.
In 1941, McGaha was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with Company G of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was there when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941, precipitating the United States' entrance into World War II.
McGaha fought in the Guadalcanal Campaign and the northern Solomons before participating in the campaign to recapture the Philippines from Japanese control. On February 7, 1945, he was serving as a master sergeant during the Battle of Luzon. On that day, near Lupao, Luzon, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to aid wounded soldiers, led his platoon after the platoon leader was wounded, and deliberately drew Japanese fire onto himself so that others could escape to safety. For these actions, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor and given a battlefield commission to second lieutenant. McGaha was then discharged from the Army, but soon re-enlisted as a master sergeant and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. His nomination for the Medal of Honor was approved a year after the battle, on April 2, 1946. During a ceremony at the White House on March 27, 1946, President Harry S. Truman formally presented McGaha and another man, Navy Commander Richard O'Kane, with Medals of Honor.
In December 1949, McGaha married Jeanette Large.
McGaha again became a commissioned officer and reached the rank of major before retiring from the Army.
McGaha died at age 70, after being stabbed forty times in an apparent robbery attempt, and was buried in Union Cemetery, Newport, Tennessee.
Medal of Honor citation
Medal of Honor citation McGaha's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Awards and decorations
BadgeCombat Infantryman Badge1st rowMedal of HonorSilver Star2nd rowBronze Star MedalPurple HeartArmy Good Conduct Medal3rd rowAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal4th rowWorld War II Victory MedalPhilippine Liberation MedalNational Defense ServiceBadgeMaster Parachutists BadgeUnit awardsPresidential Unit CitationPhilippine Presidential Unit Citation
See also
List of Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
References