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Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Birth: 29 January 1925, Racine, Wis. Accredited to: Wisconsin. Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 4th Battalion, 10th
Marines, 2d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on
Saipan, Marianas Islands, 7 July 1944. When the enemy launched a fierce,
determined counterattack against our positions and overran a neighboring
artillery battalion, Pfc. Agerholm immediately volunteered to assist in
the efforts to check the hostile attack and evacuate our wounded. Locating
and appropriating an abandoned ambulance jeep, he repeatedly made extremely
perilous trips under heavy rifle and mortar fire and single-handedly loaded
and evacuated approximately 45 casualties, working tirelessly and with
utter disregard for his own safety during a grueling period of more than
3 hours. Despite intense, persistent enemy fire, he ran out to aid 2 men
whom he believed to be wounded marines but was himself mortally wounded
by a Japanese sniper while carrying out his hazardous mission. Pfc. Agerholm's
brilliant initiative, great personal valor and self-sacrificing efforts
in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself
and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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