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Heroic Score1001058th out of 4481
Number of Medals1
Total Heroic & Non-Heroic Score1003311 of 4481
U.S. Marine Corps#80of 291
Infantry#417of 1502
World War II#486of 924
Battle of Guadalcanal#6of 13
Battle of Saipan#5of 9
Battle of Tinian#5of 9
Battle of Okinawa#10of 17
Korean War#101of 197
Second Battle of Seoul#4of 11
Chosin Reservoir advance †#1of 2
James I. Poynter
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
World War IIBattle of GuadalcanalBattle of SaipanBattle of TinianBattle of OkinawaKorean WarSecond Battle of SeoulChosin Reservoir advance †
Awards & Decorations
Ribbon Rack
Biography
James Irsley Poynter was a United States Marine Corps sergeant who served with distinction in both World War II and the Korean War. As a member of the 1st Marine Division, he served as a platoon squad leader during the intense fighting in North Korea in late 1950.
On November 4, 1950, Sergeant Poynter sacrificed his life in a heroic action to save his platoon. He singlehandedly charged and destroyed three enemy machine gun positions that had pinned down his unit, an act of supreme valor for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, his service across two major global conflicts was recognized with numerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal with valor device, the Purple Heart with a gold star, and multiple campaign medals and unit citations.
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Score Breakdown
Medal of Honor(base 100)
+100Heroic Score100 pts