World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born at Greenville, South Carolina and enlisted in the Marine Corps on February 10, 1942. He served as a Sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, at Bougainville, Solomon Islands. During the beach landing at Cape Torokina, November 1, 1943, a strategically placed Japanese 75 millimeter regimental gun seriously threatening the success of the operation. No boats could approach the beach because the emplacement could only be attacked from the front and in a position whereby rifle fire and grenades could not reach the gun crew. Sergeant Owens decided that the only way to neutralize the gun was to charge it directly from the front and called for volunteers to cover him. Charging the rapidly firing cannon and entering the emplacement through a fire port, he chased the Japanese out the back where they were cut down by his rifleman. Pursuing them, he in turn was instantly killed. Major General Allen H. Turnage, Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division, said, "Among many brave acts on the beachhead of Bougainville, no other single act saved the lives of more of his comrades or served to contribute so much to the success of the landings." He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 12,1945.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born at Greenville, South Carolina and enlisted in the Marine Corps on February 10, 1942. He served as a Sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, at Bougainville, Solomon Islands. During the beach landing at Cape Torokina, November 1, 1943, a strategically placed Japanese 75 millimeter regimental gun seriously threatening the success of the operation. No boats could approach the beach because the emplacement could only be attacked from the front and in a position whereby rifle fire and grenades could not reach the gun crew. Sergeant Owens decided that the only way to neutralize the gun was to charge it directly from the front and called for volunteers to cover him. Charging the rapidly firing cannon and entering the emplacement through a fire port, he chased the Japanese out the back where they were cut down by his rifleman. Pursuing them, he in turn was instantly killed. Major General Allen H. Turnage, Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division, said, "Among many brave acts on the beachhead of Bougainville, no other single act saved the lives of more of his comrades or served to contribute so much to the success of the landings." He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 12,1945.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Owens memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
