World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from US Marine Corps Major General Joseph C. Fegan at the Seattle Naval Hospital, Seattle, Washington, on July 19, 1944, for his actions as a private with the 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Company M, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, on 1-2 February 1944, at Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on December 13, 1942, and following his recruit and combat training, he was sent to the South Pacific. On February 1, 1944, he landed with his battalion at Namur, Kwajalein, and on that day, he was wounded in action when a Japanese soldier threw a grenade in the midst of his squad. He threw himself on the grenade and took the explosion's full force bur managed to survive. Gravely injured, he evacuated to the US Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. then on to the Seattle Naval Hospital. During that time, he underwent six surgeries. After he fully recovered, he remained in the US Marine Corps as a recruiter until he was discharged in February 1946. In July 1947 he enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserve and was promoted up the ranks to master sergeant, then attended the Marine Corp Officers School after being appointed to the rank of 2nd lieutenant. After leaving the Marine Corps in 1955, he worked for the Veterans Administration (VA) until 1957. For the next 10 years, he worked as an insurance underwriter, but then returned to the VA and remained with them until his retirement as director of Veterans Affairs for the state of Nevada and nine counties of California in 1985. He died at the age of 80. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with an assault battalion attached to the Fourth Marine Division during the battle of Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, on February 1–2, 1944. Putting up a brave defense against a particularly violent counterattack by the enemy during invasion operations, Private Sorenson and five other Marines occupying a shellhole were endangered by a Japanese grenade thrown into their midst. Unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Private Sorenson hurled himself upon the deadly weapon, heroically taking the full impact of the explosion. As a result of his gallant action, he was severely wounded, but the lives of his comrades were saved. His great personal valor and exceptional spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."