John H Leims
| John H. Leims | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 8, 1921 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | June 28, 1985 United States |
| Status | Survived |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps Reserve |
| Years of service | 1942–1962 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Service number | |
| Unit | Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division |
| Commands held | |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Medal of Honor, Purple Heart |
| Relations | |
| Later work | Continued in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as Captain in 1962; buried at Arlington National Cemetery |
John Harold Leims (June 8, 1921 – June 28, 1985) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps Reserve who received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest decoration for valor, for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Leims enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1944. He fought on Guam and then Iwo Jima as commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.
Medal of Honor
[edit]On March 7, 1945, as company commander, Leims led a surprise attack that captured a fortified hill, personally laid telephone lines across fire-swept terrain, and twice returned alone under heavy fire at night to rescue wounded Marines. He received the Medal of Honor from President Truman on June 14, 1946, later rose to captain, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Citation
[edit]For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 7 March 1945. Launching a surprise attack against the rock-embedded fortifications of a dominating Japanese hill position, Second Lieutenant Leims spurred his company forward with indomitable determination and, skillfully directing his assault platoons against the cave-emplaced enemy troops and heavily fortified pillboxes, succeeded in capturing the objective in the late afternoon. When it became apparent that his assault platoons were cut off in this newly won position, approximately four hundred yards forward of adjacent units and lacked all communication with the command post, he personally advanced and laid telephone lines across the isolating expanse of open, fire-swept terrain. Ordered to withdraw his command after he had joined his forward platoons, he immediately complied, adroitly effecting the withdrawal of his troops without incident. Upon arriving at the rear, he was informed that several casualties had been left at the abandoned ridge position beyond the front lines. Although suffering acutely from strain and exhaustion of battle, he instantly went forward despite darkness and the slashing fury of hostile machine-gun fire, located and carried to safety one seriously wounded Marine and then, running the gauntlet of enemy fire for the third time that night, again made his tortuous way into the bullet-riddled deathtrap and rescued another of his wounded men. A dauntless leader, concerned at all times for the welfare of his men, Second Lieutenant Leims soundly maintained the coordinated strength of his battle-wearied company under extremely difficult conditions and, by his bold tactics, sustained aggressiveness and heroic disregard of all personal danger, contributed essentially to the success of his division's operations against this vital Japanese base. His valiant conduct in the face of fanatic opposition sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.