William A. Foster

He shielded a fellow Marine from a deadly grenade on Okinawa

William Adelbert Foster earned the Medal of Honor on Okinawa on May 2, 1945. A private first class in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, he was defending a perimeter position with another Marine after an assault on Japanese fortifications.

During a grenade exchange, an enemy grenade landed near their foxhole. Foster covered it with his body, protecting his companion. Mortally wounded, he handed over his two remaining grenades so the other Marine could continue fighting.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Foster trained as a machinist and worked at the Star Machine and Tool Company. After National Guard service, he entered the Marine Corps Reserve in April 1944 and trained in California before sailing to the Pacific that September. Okinawa was his first combat campaign. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously; General Alexander A. Vandegrift presented it to his parents in Cleveland in August 1946. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery there.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 2 May 1945. Dug in with another marine on the point of the perimeter defense after waging a furious assault against a strongly fortified Japanese position, Pfc. Foster and his comrade engaged in a fierce hand-grenade duel with infiltrating enemy soldiers. Suddenly an enemy grenade landed beyond reach of the foxhole. Instantly diving on the deadly missile, Pfc. Foster absorbed the exploding charge in his own body, thereby protecting the other marine from serious injury. Although mortally wounded as a result of his heroic action, he quickly rallied, handed his own two remaining grenades to his comrade and said, "Make them count." Stouthearted and indomitable, he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow marine might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy, and his dauntless determination, cool decision, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Foster and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.