Serial # 07270
West Sommerville, Mass
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to
CAPTAIN JOHN T. O'NEIL UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE, for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company A, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Second Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 24 November 1943. With his vehicle immobilized by hostile fire while leading his assault wave of amphibian tractors to hisassigned sector of the beach on D Day, Captain O'Neil fearlessly risked his life to evacuate casualties from the stricken craft to an outgoing vehicle. Boldly directing survivors to the shore where he boarded another tractor in which the entire crew had been killed, he subsequently returned across the reef with addltional woundcd and after transferring the men to a landing boat, reloaded his vehicle with reinforcements and was proceeding to the beach when another bursting shell disabled his craft. Although painfully wounded by shrapnel he boarded a third tractor and dauntlesoly contlnued to transport vitally needed troops and supplies throughout the most bitter stage of hostlllttes. By hls daring initiative, unwaverlng perseverance and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Captain O'Neill contributed irrrneasurably to the success of the Tarawa Campaign and hls zealous devotion to duty throughout was ln keeping with the highest tradltlons of the United States Naval Servlce."
"Landing Ordeal On Tarawa Described By Guadal Vet"
By: Sgt. Hy Hurwitz, Combat Correspondant,
Chevron December 18, 1943
Tarawa Gilbert Islands Nov. 22 (delayed) - "Guadalcanal was child's play compared to this," said Capt. John T. O'Neil of West Sommerville. Mass. who led one of the first assault group onto this heavily fortified island, and who did the same thing when the Marines invaded the Solomons 7 Aug., 1942.
"I had 18 men in my boat," Capt. O'Neil related about his Tarawa ordeal, "and when we were 500 yards from the spot we were supposed to hit, the Japs opened up on us from all directions. About 100 yards from the beach, I was up with my driver and giving him instructions. Before I could finish, he was shot in the heart and slumped into my lap.
Eight of the other men in the boat were hit. So was the boat, but by some miralce I got it straightened around and went back out to evacuate the wounded. I started in a second time in a different craft. This time we met heavier fire. I went back and started in towards a different point, as our original landing position was too heavily defneded.
"I finally landed with 10 men about two hours after we were due to hit the beach. We had to swim about a quarter of a mile to make the beach. All of us had to discard out combat packs and some men even lost their weapons. We were surrounded by the Jap fire, and the only thing we could do was dig in. We stayed there all night in out foxholes and the Japs wiped out half of my men, They seemed to pick out every other foxhole."
The second day, Capt. O'Neil teamed up with a few other groups and began a push across the island.
Notes:
Image from Godwin Collection
Article - "Chevron", 18 December 1943
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Created 3 September 2015 - Updated 16 May 2023
