STEIN, TONY - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Birth: 30
September 1921, Dayton, Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines,
5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima,
in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. The first man of his unit to
be on station after hitting the beach in the initial assault, Cpl. Stein,
armed with a personally improvised aircraft-type weapon, provided rapid
covering fire as the remainder of his platoon attempted to move into position.
When his comrades were stalled by a concentrated machinegun and mortar
barrage, he gallantly stood upright and exposed himself to the enemy's
view, thereby drawing the hostile fire to his own person and enabling him
to observe the location of the furiously blazing hostile guns. Determined
to neutralize the strategically placed weapons, he boldly charged the enemy
pillboxes 1 by 1 and succeeded in killing 20 of the enemy during the furious
single-handed assault. Cool and courageous under the merciless hail of
exploding shells and bullets which fell on all sides, he continued to deliver
the fire of his skillfully improvised weapon at a tremendous rate of speed
which rapidly exhausted his ammunition. Undaunted, he removed his helmet
and shoes to expedite his movements and ran back to the beach for additional
ammunition, making a total of 8 trips under intense fire and carrying or
assisting a wounded man back each time. Despite the unrelenting savagery
and confusion of battle, he rendered prompt assistance to his platoon whenever
the unit was in position, directing the fire of a half-track against a
stubborn pillbox until he had effected the ultimate destruction of the
Japanese fortification. Later in the day, although his weapon was twice
shot from his hands, he personally covered the withdrawal of his platoon
to the company position. Stouthearted and indomitable, Cpl. Stein, by his
aggressive initiative sound judgment, and unwavering devotion to duty in
the face of terrific odds, contributed materially to the fulfillment of
his mission, and his outstanding valor throughout the bitter hours of conflict
sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
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