John Harlan Willis

He threw back eight grenades while treating a wounded Marine

John Harlan Willis was born on June 10, 1921, in Columbia, Tennessee. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1940. He trained at Norfolk and Portsmouth, then worked at naval medical establishments at Parris Island and Jacksonville. He attended the Field Medical School Battalion in 1943 and joined the Fleet Marine Force at Oceanside, California, in 1944. As a pharmacist's mate first class, he served as a platoon corpsman with the 3d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, departing with the invasion force in December 1944.

On February 28, 1945, on Iwo Jima, Willis treated wounded Marines under artillery and mortar fire around Hill 362. Shrapnel wounded him, and he was sent to an aid station. He returned to his company and moved to the front to treat a Marine in a shell hole during an enemy counterattack. While administering blood plasma, he threw back eight grenades that landed nearby. A ninth killed him. His conduct helped inspire his comrades to repel the attackers.

Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his widow on December 12, 1945. Willis was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia. His award records a corpsman's persistence in treating others despite his own wounds and immediate danger.

Official Medal of Honor citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as platoon corpsman serving with the 3d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 28 February 1945. Constantly imperiled by artillery and mortar fire from strong and mutually supporting pillboxes and caves studding Hill 362 in the enemy cross-island defenses, Willis resolutely administered first aid to the many marines wounded during the furious close-in fighting until he himself was struck by shrapnel and was ordered back to the battle-aid station. Without waiting for official medical release, he quickly returned to his company and, during a savage hand-to-hand enemy counterattack, daringly advanced to the extreme front lines under mortar and sniper fire to aid a marine lying wounded in a shell hole. Completely unmindful of his own danger as the Japanese intensified their attack, Willis calmly continued to administer blood plasma to his patient, promptly returning the first hostile grenade which landed in the shell hole while he was working and hurling back seven more in quick succession before the ninth one exploded in his hand and instantly killed him. By his great personal valor in saving others at the sacrifice of his own life, he inspired his companions, although terrifically outnumbered, to launch a fiercely determined attack and repulse the enemy force. His exceptional fortitude and courage in the performance of duty reflect the highest credit upon Willis and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.