Leonard F. Mason

In 1944, Leonard F. Mason did what few men or women in American history have done.  He earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Born in 1920 in Middlesboro, Kentucky, he was eight years older than my grandfather.  They were cousins, but my grandfather doesn't have any memories of him, even though they were born in and grew up in the same town.  My grandparents moved to Ohio in 1953, but my grandfather did not hear about the feats of his cousin until aunt uncovered the story through genealogy.

Mason enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1943 and was soon assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.  In July 1944, he went ashore on Guam carrying an M1918a2 Browning Automatic Rifle.  On July 22nd, Mason advanced on two consecutive Japanese machine gun nests.  He attacked the first, but was hit by a burst of machine gun fire.  He continued on and managed to take out the machine guns, killing five and wounding another.  Mason died the following day of the wounds he received.  

For his actions, Mason was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.  But the Medal of Honor was not the only recognition he would receive.  In 1946, the U. S. Navy commissioned the destroyer USS Leonard F. Mason (DD-852).  The Leonard F. Mason served until it was sold to the Chinese Navy in 1976.  During its service, it earned three battle stars during the Korean War and was one of the first Navy ships to arrive in Vietnam.