Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company E, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Ozato, Okinawa, 19 June 1945. Entered service at: Jersey City, New Jersey. Birth: Jersey City, New Jersey. General Orders Number: 60, 26 June 1946.

Citation:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. In the heat of the fight, he mounted an assault tank, and, with bullets splattering about him, designated targets to the gunner. Seeing an enemy soldier carrying an explosive charge dash for the tank treads, he shouted fire orders to the gunner, leaped from the tank, and bayoneted the charging soldier. Knocked unconscious and his rifle destroyed, he regained consciousness, secured a machinegun from the tank, and began a furious 1-man assault on the enemy. Firing from his hip, moving through vicious crossfire that ripped through his clothing, he charged the nearest pillbox, killing 6. Going on amid the hail of bullets and grenades, he dashed for a second enemy gun, running out of ammunition just as he reached the position. He grasped his empty gun by the barrel and in a violent onslaught killed the crew. By his fearless assaults T/Sgt. Meagher single-handedly broke the enemy resistance, enabling his platoon to take its objective and continue the advance.

Sergeant Meagher died on April 14, 1996 and was buried with full military honors in Section 64 of Arlington National Cemetery.

Photos courtesy of Robert Hellie

Photo Courtesy of Russell C. Jacobs, March 2006

MEAGHER, JOHN WILLIAM
T SGT   US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/05/1917
DATE OF DEATH: 04/14/1996
BURIED AT: SECTION 64  SITE 1701
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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