Samuel Gross (soldier)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other persons named Samuel Gross, see Samuel Gross (disambiguation).
Samuel Gross (originally Samuel Marguiles) (9 May 1891 – September 13, 1934) was a Private in the United States Marine Corps, 23d Company who won the Medal of Honor for his efforts during the United States occupation of Haiti in 1915.
Gross was born in Philadelphia.
[edit] Citation
- In company with members of the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and the marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut, Gross participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Gross was the second man to pass through the breach in the face of constant fire from the Cacos and, thereafter, for a 10-minute period, engaged the enemy in desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.
Gross is generally believed to be the only Jewish Marine to receive the Medal of Honor. During the battle he saved the life of Smedley Butler.
[edit] References
- Medal of Honor citation via homeofheroes.com
- Brody, Seymour. Three Unknown Jewish Military Heroes. via Florida Atlantic University.
