Years of service 1940 - 1944 Awards Medal of Honor | Name Troy McGill Rank Sergeant | |
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Born July 15, 1914
Knoxville, Tennessee ( 1914-07-15 ) Place of burial Knoxville National Cemetery Knoxville, Tennessee Battles/wars World War II
Admiralty Islands campaign Died March 4, 1944, Los Negros Island, Papua New Guinea Battles and wars Admiralty Islands campaign, World War II Unit 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division | ||
Service/branch United States Army Allegiance United States of America | ||
Troy A. McGill (July 15, 1914 – March 4, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Admiralty Islands campaign of World War II.
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Biography
McGill joined the Army from Ada, Oklahoma in November 1940, and by March 4, 1944 was serving as a Sergeant in Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. During an enemy attack on that day, on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, he held his ground against the numerically superior force. After ordering the only other un-wounded man in his squad to retreat, he continued to hold his position alone and eventually engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat until he was killed. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on September 11, 1944.
McGill, aged 29 at his death, was buried at Knoxville National Cemetery in his birth city of Knoxville, Tennessee.
A section of Interstate 40 in Knoxville, Tennessee is named "Troy A. McGill Memorial Highway".
Medal of Honor citation
Sergeant McGill's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Los Negros Island, Admiralty Group, on 4 March 1944. In the early morning hours Sgt. McGill, with a squad of 8 men, occupied a revetment which bore the brunt of a furious attack by approximately 200 drink-crazed enemy troops. Although covered by crossfire from machine-guns on the right and left flank he could receive no support from the remainder of our troops stationed at his rear. All members of the squad were killed or wounded except Sgt. McGill and another man, whom he ordered to return to the next revetment. Courageously resolved to hold his position at all cost, he fired his weapon until it ceased to function. Then, with the enemy only 5 yards away, he charged from his foxhole in the face of certain death and clubbed the enemy with his rifle in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. At dawn 105 enemy dead were found around his position. Sgt. McGill's intrepid stand was an inspiration to his comrades and a decisive factor in the defeat of a fanatical enemy.