Luther Skaggs Jr.

Fought through the night despite a badly shattered lower leg

Luther Skaggs Jr. was born at Henderson, Kentucky, on 3 March 1923. He entered the Marine Corps in October 1942 and trained at Parris Island and Camp Lejeune before going overseas in March 1943. He served with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

On 21 July 1944, during the landing on Guam, his section leader became a casualty. Skaggs took command and led the men forward through heavy fire to establish a position on the Asan-Adelup beachhead.

During the night of 21-22 July, a grenade exploded in his foxhole and shattered his leg. Rather than expose the position by calling out, he applied a tourniquet and continued fighting. For about eight hours he returned fire with his rifle and grenades, encouraging the men around him despite his injury.

He eventually moved to the rear without assistance and sought treatment only after the immediate fighting had ended. His wound required the amputation of his leg. The Medal of Honor recognised his leadership, endurance and continued defence of the position.

President Harry Truman presented the award at the White House on 15 June 1945. Skaggs remained in hospital and in the Marine Corps until his discharge in April 1946, when he was promoted corporal.

He subsequently lived in Florida. He died at Sarasota on 6 April 1976, aged fifty-three, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His surviving photographs and the record of his investiture preserve the young Marine who continued defending his comrades long after suffering an injury that would permanently change his own life.

Official citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with a mortar section of a rifle company in the 3d Battalion,3d Marines,3d Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup beachhead, Guam, Mariana Islands,21-22 July 1944. When the section leader became a casualty under a heavy mortar barrage shortly after landing, Pfc. Skaggs promptly assumed command and led the section through intense fire for a distance of 200 yards to a position from which to deliver effective coverage of the assault on a strategic cliff. Valiantly defending this vital position against strong enemy counterattacks during the night, Pfc. Skaggs was critically wounded when a Japanese grenade lodged in his foxhole and exploded, shattering the lower part of one leg. Quick to act, he applied an improvised tourniquet and, while propped up in his foxhole, gallantly returned the enemy's fire with his rifle and hand grenades for a period of eight hours, later crawling unassisted to the rear to continue the fight until the Japanese had been annihilated. Uncomplaining and calm throughout this critical period, Pfc. Skaggs served as a heroic example of courage and fortitude to other wounded men and, by his courageous leadership and inspiring devotion to duty, upheld the high traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.