Tony Stein
| Tony Stein | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 30, 1921 Dayton, Ohio |
| Died | March 1, 1945 Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands |
| Status | KIA |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps Reserve |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Service number | |
| Unit | Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division |
| Commands held | |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Medal of Honor, Purple Heart |
| Relations | |
| Later work | |
Anthony Michael "Tony" Stein (September 30, 1921 – March 1, 1945) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest decoration for valor, for his actions on the first day of the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for actions on Iwo Jima.
Born to immigrant parents in Dayton, Ohio, Stein enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 and served with the Paramarines before assignment to the 28th Marines. A skilled toolmaker, he fashioned a personal light machine gun — nicknamed the "Stinger" — from a .30-caliber weapon salvaged from a wrecked Navy aircraft.
Medal of Honor
[edit]During the initial assault on February 19, 1945, Stein used his improvised weapon to single-handedly destroy multiple enemy pillboxes, killing 20 of the enemy, and made eight trips to the beach under fire for ammunition, carrying or assisting a wounded Marine back each time. Wounded and evacuated, he returned to his unit and was killed by sniper fire on March 1, 1945, while leading a patrol.
Citation
[edit]For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. The first man of his unit to be on station after hitting the beach in the initial assault, Cpl. Stein, armed with a personally improvised aircraft-type weapon, provided rapid covering fire as the remainder of his platoon attempted to move into position. When his comrades were stalled by a concentrated machinegun and mortar barrage, he gallantly stood upright and exposed himself to the enemy's view, thereby drawing the hostile fire to his own person and enabling him to observe the location of the furiously blazing hostile guns. Determined to neutralize the strategically placed weapons, he boldly charged the enemy pillboxes 1 by 1 and succeeded in killing 20 of the enemy during the furious single-handed assault. Cool and courageous under the merciless hail of exploding shells and bullets which fell on all sides, he continued to deliver the fire of his skillfully improvised weapon at a tremendous rate of speed which rapidly exhausted his ammunition. Undaunted, he removed his helmet and shoes to expedite his movements and ran back to the beach for additional ammunition, making a total of 8 trips under intense fire and carrying or assisting a wounded man back each time. Despite the unrelenting savagery and confusion of battle, he rendered prompt assistance to his platoon whenever the unit was in position, directing the fire of a half-track against a stubborn pillbox until he had effected the ultimate destruction of the Japanese fortification. Later in the day, although his weapon was twice shot from his hands, he personally covered the withdrawal of his platoon to the company position. Stouthearted and indomitable, Cpl. Stein, by his aggressive initiative, sound judgment, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of terrific odds, contributed materially to the fulfillment of his mission, and his outstanding valor throughout the bitter hours of conflict sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.