Ernest August Janson

The Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor in One Battle

Twelve German soldiers. Five machine guns. One Marine who refused to let the enemy break through. On 6 June 1918, amid the fierce fighting near Château-Thierry, France, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest August Janson made a split-second decision that would earn him two of America's highest military honours.

Born on 17 August 1878 in New York City, Ernest August Janson served nearly ten years in the United States Army before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1910. Serving under the name Charles F. Hoffman, he participated in the Nicaraguan Campaign and later deployed to France during World War I with the 49th Company, 5th Marine Regiment, 2nd Division.

His defining moment came at Hill 142, during the opening fighting of the Battle of Belleau Wood. After American Marines captured their objective on 6 June 1918, German forces launched repeated counterattacks against their still-unsecured positions. While organizing the defensive line, Janson spotted twelve enemy soldiers approaching with five light machine guns. Recognizing the devastating threat, he raised the alarm and charged directly into the German detachment. He bayoneted two enemy leaders, forcing the remaining soldiers to flee and abandon their weapons. His extraordinary initiative prevented the enemy from bringing deadly machine-gun fire against the American position.

For this single act of heroism, Janson received both the Army Medal of Honor and the Navy Medal of Honor, becoming one of the exceptionally rare double recipients of America's highest military decoration. The Army citation, published in War Department General Orders No. 34 in 1919, emphasized his courage and decisive action in preventing a possible American withdrawal. The Navy citation similarly recognized his conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. Two separate citations immortalized the same remarkable battlefield achievement.

His bravery also earned a citation from the commanding general of the 2nd Division for gallantry in action near Château-Thierry, authorizing a silver Citation Star on his World War I Victory Medal ribbon. International recognition followed. France honoured him with the prestigious Médaille militaire and Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with Palm. Italy awarded the Croce al Merito di Guerra, Montenegro recognized him with its Silver Medal for Military Bravery, and Portugal awarded the Cruz de Guerra, identified as the Third Class. These foreign distinctions reflected the exceptional courage he displayed alongside Allied forces.

Severely wounded during the fighting, Janson returned to the United States in November 1918 for medical treatment. His service was also recognized by the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, and World War I Victory Medal. He continued serving as a Marine Corps recruiter after the war and was promoted to Sergeant Major upon retirement in 1926.

Ernest August Janson died on 14 May 1930 and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. His legacy remains inseparable from that desperate morning on Hill 142, when one Marine's fearless charge helped safeguard an American position and earned him two Medals of Honor for a single act of extraordinary courage.