Henry A. Courtney Jr.

He led a daring night attack against a fortified enemy hill!

Henry Alexius Courtney Jr. was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on 6 January 1916. He studied at the University of Minnesota and Loyola University in Chicago, qualifying as a lawyer and gaining admission to the bar in Minnesota and Illinois. In February 1940 he received a commission in the Marine Corps Reserve, and the following month took command of the Duluth reserve unit.

Mobilization took Courtney to training in California and then to Iceland, where he served for ten months. He subsequently commanded a company during the Guadalcanal campaign. By the invasion of Okinawa he was a major and executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Marines, 6th Marine Division.

During fighting near Sugar Loaf Hill on the night of 14-15 May 1945, Courtney judged that remaining in the existing positions would leave his men exposed to concentrated Japanese fire. He obtained permission to lead an attack and assembled volunteers from the companies around him. Moving forward with grenades, the Marines attacked fortified caves and emplacements on the slope.

Courtney repeatedly exposed himself while directing the advance, helping casualties and arranging ammunition. At the crest he reorganized the survivors and encouraged them to dig in and hold their gains. He continued directing the defence as Japanese troops counterattacked. An enemy explosive killed him while he was moving between positions.

The posthumous Medal of Honor recognized his leadership and initiative during the assault. He also received two Purple Hearts for wounds in the Okinawa campaign. Courtney was twenty-nine when he died. His parents received the Medal of Honor from Marine Corps Commandant Alexander Vandegrift in December 1947. His remains were returned from Okinawa to Duluth for burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation excerpt

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty”

Full official citation: https://www.cmohs.org/index.php/recipients/henry-a-courtney