William Adelbert Foster (February 17, 1915 – May 2, 1945) was a
United States Marine
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
who received the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
during the
Battle of Okinawa in 1945.
Early life
William Foster was born in
Garfield Heights, Ohio
Garfield Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Cleveland. The population was 28,849 at the time of the 2010 census.
Geography
Garfield Heights is located at (41.421423, -81.602682).
According to the Unit ...
on February 17, 1915. Following graduation from vocational high school, where he majored in machinist's subjects, he was employed as a planer and shaper at
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
's Star Machine and Tool Company. A veteran of six year's service in the
Ohio National Guard
The Ohio National Guard comprises the Ohio Army National Guard and the Ohio Air National Guard. The commander-in-chief of the Ohio Army National Guard is the governor of the U.S. state of Ohio. If the Ohio Army National Guard is called to fed ...
, Foster was enlisted in the
Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES or MFR), also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command, by assigned p ...
through the
Selective Service System on April 1, 1944.
Military service
Foster received his basic training at
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Marine Corps Recruit Depot (commonly referred to as MCRD) San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and th ...
, California. In late September 1944, after intensive combat training at
Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by O ...
, he embarked for overseas duty on board the bound for the
Russell Islands :''See also Russell Island (disambiguation).''
The Russell Islands are two small islands ( Pavuvu and Mbanika), as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of Solomon Islands. They are located approximately northwest o ...
in the Solomon group. There he joined his regular unit — Company K,
3rd Battalion 1st Marines,
1st Marine Division
The 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) is a Marine division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).
It is th ...
.
He landed with his unit during the
Battle of Okinawa on
Easter
Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel ...
Sunday, April 1, 1945, the first anniversary of his enlistment in the Marine Corps. In combat for the first time at Okinawa, PFC Foster performed an act of heroism on May 2, 1945, which earned for him the nation's highest military decoration: the Medal of Honor.
Dug in with another Marine, he and his comrade engaged in a fierce
hand grenade duel with infiltrating enemy soldiers. When a Japanese grenade landed beyond reach in their
foxhole
Foxhole may refer to:
* Foxhole, a type of defensive fighting position constructed in a military context
* Foxholes, Hertford, an eastern suburb of Hertford
* Foxholes, North Yorkshire, a village and civil parish in Northern England
* Foxhole, C ...
, Private First Class Foster, with complete disregard for his personal safety, dove on it and absorbed its full explosion with his own body, thus protecting the other Marine from serious injury. Miraculously, he survived the explosion. Mortally wounded, he handed his two remaining grenades to his comrade and said, "Make them count…" then was brought to medical care where he died of his injuries.
On August 19, 1946, Gen
Alexander A. Vandegrift
General Alexander Archer Vandegrift, USMC (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. During World War II, he commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive of the war, the Bat ...
, then
Commandant of the Marine Corps, presented the Medal of Honor to his parents in a ceremony at the City Hall in Cleveland. In the words of the accompanying citation, presented by President
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...
, "… he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow Marine might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy…"
Foster was initially interred in the 1st Marine Division cemetery on Okinawa. On March 5, 1949, his remains were reinterred in the
Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland. His remaining family lives in and around the Cleveland area.
Awards and honors
Foster's awards include:
*
Camp Foster
Camp Foster, formerly known as Camp Zukeran ( ja, キャンプ・フォスター), is a United States Marine Corps camp located in Ginowan City with portions overlapping into Okinawa City, Chatan town and Kitanakagusuku village in the Japane ...
, part of the
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler (or simply Butler Marine Base)
is a United States Marine Corps base located in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. It was named after Marine Corps Major General and twice Medal of Honor recipient Smedley ...
complex on Okinawa, is named for Foster.
*In 1957, William Foster Elementary opened in his hometown of Garfield Heights. It publicly educates grades K-5.
Medal of Honor citation
The
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR
posthumous
Posthumous may refer to:
* Posthumous award - an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death
* Posthumous publication – material published after the author's death
* ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1987
* ''Posthumous'' ...
ly to
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Rifleman with Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryūkyū Chain, May 2, 1945. Dug in with another Marine on the point of the perimeter defense after waging a furious assault against a strongly fortified Japanese position, Private First Class Foster and comrade engaged in a fierce
hand grenade duel with infiltrating enemy soldiers. Suddenly an enemy grenade landed beyond reach in the
foxhole
Foxhole may refer to:
* Foxhole, a type of defensive fighting position constructed in a military context
* Foxholes, Hertford, an eastern suburb of Hertford
* Foxholes, North Yorkshire, a village and civil parish in Northern England
* Foxhole, C ...
. Instantly diving on the deadly missile, Private First Class Foster absorbed the exploding charge in his own body, thereby protecting the other Marine from serious injury. Although mortally wounded as a result of his heroic action, he quickly rallied, handed his own remaining two grenades to his comrade and said, "Make them count." Stouthearted and indomitable, he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow Marine might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy, and his dauntless determination, cool decision and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Foster and in the
United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
See also
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
References
*Official Marine Corps biography:
*
*
Further reading
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, William A.
1915 births
1945 deaths
United States Marine Corps personnel killed in World War II
United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
Military personnel from Cleveland
United States Marines
World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor
Deaths by hand grenade
Ohio National Guard personnel
United States Marine Corps reservists