Benjamin Lewis Salomon (September 1, 1914 – July 7, 1944) was a United States Armydentist during World War II, assigned as a front-line surgeon. During the Battle of Saipan, when the Japanese started overrunning his hospital, he stood a rear-guard action in which he had no hope of personal survival, allowing the safe evacuation of the wounded, killing as many as 98 enemy troops before being killed himself. In 2002, Salomon posthumously received the Medal of Honor. He is one of only three dental officers to have received the medal, the others being Alexander Gordon Lyle and Weedon Osborne.[1][2]
In 1940, he was drafted into the United States Army and began his military service as an infantryprivate, qualifying expert in rifle and pistol. In 1942, he was notified that he would become an officer in the Army Dental Corps and was commissioned a first lieutenant. On August 14, 1942, the 102nd Infantry Regt. commanding officer declared him the unit's "best all around soldier". In May 1943, he was serving as the regimental dental officer of the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1944.[2]
In June 1944, Salomon saw his first combat — going ashore on Saipan with the 105th Infantry. With little dental work to do during active combat, Salomon volunteered to replace the 2nd Battalion's surgeon, who had been wounded. As the 2nd Battalion advanced, casualties were high. On July 7, Salomon's aid station was set up only 50 yards behind the forward foxhole line. Fighting was heavy and a major Japanese assault soon overran the perimeter, then the aid station. Salomon was able to grab an M1 Garand that was near him, kill the enemy that entered the hospital tent and ordered the wounded to be evacuated, while he stayed and fired upon the incoming enemy with an M1917 machine gun to cover their withdrawal.[2]
When an Army team returned to the site days later, Salomon's body was found slumped over the machine gun, with the bodies of 98 enemy troops piled up in front of his position. His body had 76 bullet wounds and many bayonet wounds, up to 24 of which may have been received while he was still alive.[2][4]
Medal of Honor recognitionedit
Capt. Edmund G. Love, the 27th Division historian, was a part of the team that found Salomon's body. At the request of Brig. Gen. Ogden J. Ross, the assistant commander of the 27th Division, Love gathered eyewitness accounts and prepared a recommendation for the Medal of Honor for Salomon.
The recommendation was returned by Maj. Gen. George W. Griner, the commanding general of the 27th Division. Officially, Griner declined to approve the award because Salomon was "in the medical service and wore a Red Cross brassard upon his arm. Under the rules of the Geneva Convention, to which the United States subscribes, no medical officer can bear arms against the enemy."[2] However, the guideline for awarding the Medal of Honor to medical non-combatants states that one may not receive the Medal of Honor for actions in an offensive. More recent interpretations of the convention, as well as the US Laws of Land Warfare,[5] allow use of personal weapons (i.e., rifles and pistols) in self-defense or in defense of patients and staff, as long as the medical soldier does not wear the Red Cross. Part of the problem in Salomon's citation was that a machine gun is considered a "crew-served" weapon, not an individual one.
In 1998, the recommendation was re-submitted by Dr. Robert West (USC Dental School) through Congressman Brad Sherman,[6] with the support of Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sculley, new chief of the Army Dental Corps.[7] Finally, on May 1, 2002, President George W. Bush presented Salomon's Medal of Honor to Dr. West.[8] West then presented the Medal to Sculley for permanent placement in the Army Medical Department Museum in San Antonio, Texas.[7][2] A replica of Salomon's Medal of Honor is displayed at the USC Dental School.[7][9] The Army Medical Department, at this point, was supportive.
Medal of Honor citationedit
CAPTAIN BEN L. SALOMON UNITED STATES ARMY
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Captain Ben L. Salomon was serving at Saipan, in the Marianas Islands on July 7, 1944, as the Surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. The Regiment’s 1st and 2d Battalions were attacked by an overwhelming force estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 Japanese soldiers. It was one of the largest attacks attempted in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Although both units fought furiously, the enemy soon penetrated the Battalions’ combined perimeter and inflicted overwhelming casualties. In the first minutes of the attack, approximately 30 wounded soldiers walked, crawled, or were carried into Captain Salomon’s aid station, and the small tent soon filled with wounded men. As the perimeter began to be overrun, it became increasingly difficult for Captain Salomon to work on the wounded. He then saw a Japanese soldier bayoneting one of the wounded soldiers lying near the tent. Firing from a squatting position, Captain Salomon quickly killed the enemy soldier. Then, as he turned his attention back to the wounded, two more Japanese soldiers appeared in the front entrance of the tent. As these enemy soldiers were killed, four more crawled under the tent walls. Rushing them, Captain Salomon kicked the knife out of the hand of one, shot another, and bayoneted a third. Captain Salomon butted the fourth enemy soldier in the stomach and a wounded comrade then shot and killed the enemy soldier. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Captain Salomon ordered the wounded to make their way as best they could back to the regimental aid station, while he attempted to hold off the enemy until they were clear. Captain Salomon then grabbed a rifle from one of the wounded and rushed out of the tent. After four men were killed while manning a machine gun, Captain Salomon took control of it. When his body was later found, 98 dead enemy soldiers were piled in front of his position. Captain Salomon’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
^"American Dental Association". Journal of the American Dental Association. 68: 168. 1964. ISSN 0002-8177. OCLC 1777821. During the 100 years that officers have been eligible, two dental officers have been awarded the Medal: Alexander Gordan Lyle and ...
^ abcdefWilliam T. Bowers. . Medal of Honor recipients: United States Army Medical Department. Office of Medical History, Office of the Surgeon General. Archived from the original on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
^Biederman, Patricia Ward (May 5, 2012). . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
^. homeofheroes.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
^Section 223, “Conditions Not Depriving Medical Units and Establishments of Protection”
^Congressman Brad Sherman (May 1, 2006). . Press Release, Office of Congressman Brad Sherman. Archived from the original on July 4, 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
^ abcCollette Knittel (September 2002). . Journal of the California Dental Association. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
^Bush, George W. (May 1, 2002). "Remarks on presenting the congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Captain Ben L. Salomon and Captain Jon E. Swanson". Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
^Seymour “Sy” Brody. "Capt. Ben L. Salomon: Jewish Medal of Honor recipient in World War II". Jewish Heroes in America. from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
External linksedit
"Ben L. Salomon, MOH Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
Collette Knittel (September 2002). . Journal of the California Dental Association. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
"Ben L. Salomon - Jewish Medal of Honor Recipient". J-Grit: The Internet Index of Tough Jews.
November 10, 2023
salomon, benjamin, lewis, salomon, september, 1914, july, 1944, united, states, army, dentist, during, world, assigned, front, line, surgeon, during, battle, saipan, when, japanese, started, overrunning, hospital, stood, rear, guard, action, which, hope, perso. Benjamin Lewis Salomon September 1 1914 July 7 1944 was a United States Army dentist during World War II assigned as a front line surgeon During the Battle of Saipan when the Japanese started overrunning his hospital he stood a rear guard action in which he had no hope of personal survival allowing the safe evacuation of the wounded killing as many as 98 enemy troops before being killed himself In 2002 Salomon posthumously received the Medal of Honor He is one of only three dental officers to have received the medal the others being Alexander Gordon Lyle and Weedon Osborne 1 2 Benjamin L SalomonBorn 1914 09 01 September 1 1914Milwaukee WisconsinDiedJuly 7 1944 1944 07 07 aged 29 Saipan Northern Mariana Islands South Pacific MandatePlace of burialForest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale CaliforniaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States ArmyYears of service1940 1944RankCaptainUnit2nd Battalion 105th Infantry Regiment27th Infantry DivisionBattles warsWorld War II Battle of Saipan AwardsMedal of HonorPurple Heart Contents 1 Biography 2 Medal of Honor recognition 3 Medal of Honor citation 4 Awards 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBiography editSalomon was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 1 1914 He was an Eagle Scout one of nine who were awarded the Medal of Honor 3 He graduated from Shorewood High School and attended Marquette University before transferring to the University of Southern California where he completed his undergraduate degree He graduated from the USC Dental School in 1937 and began a dental practice In 1940 he was drafted into the United States Army and began his military service as an infantry private qualifying expert in rifle and pistol In 1942 he was notified that he would become an officer in the Army Dental Corps and was commissioned a first lieutenant On August 14 1942 the 102nd Infantry Regt commanding officer declared him the unit s best all around soldier In May 1943 he was serving as the regimental dental officer of the 105th Infantry Regiment 27th Infantry Division He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1944 2 In June 1944 Salomon saw his first combat going ashore on Saipan with the 105th Infantry With little dental work to do during active combat Salomon volunteered to replace the 2nd Battalion s surgeon who had been wounded As the 2nd Battalion advanced casualties were high On July 7 Salomon s aid station was set up only 50 yards behind the forward foxhole line Fighting was heavy and a major Japanese assault soon overran the perimeter then the aid station Salomon was able to grab an M1 Garand that was near him kill the enemy that entered the hospital tent and ordered the wounded to be evacuated while he stayed and fired upon the incoming enemy with an M1917 machine gun to cover their withdrawal 2 When an Army team returned to the site days later Salomon s body was found slumped over the machine gun with the bodies of 98 enemy troops piled up in front of his position His body had 76 bullet wounds and many bayonet wounds up to 24 of which may have been received while he was still alive 2 4 Medal of Honor recognition editCapt Edmund G Love the 27th Division historian was a part of the team that found Salomon s body At the request of Brig Gen Ogden J Ross the assistant commander of the 27th Division Love gathered eyewitness accounts and prepared a recommendation for the Medal of Honor for Salomon The recommendation was returned by Maj Gen George W Griner the commanding general of the 27th Division Officially Griner declined to approve the award because Salomon was in the medical service and wore a Red Cross brassard upon his arm Under the rules of the Geneva Convention to which the United States subscribes no medical officer can bear arms against the enemy 2 However the guideline for awarding the Medal of Honor to medical non combatants states that one may not receive the Medal of Honor for actions in an offensive More recent interpretations of the convention as well as the US Laws of Land Warfare 5 allow use of personal weapons i e rifles and pistols in self defense or in defense of patients and staff as long as the medical soldier does not wear the Red Cross Part of the problem in Salomon s citation was that a machine gun is considered a crew served weapon not an individual one In 1951 Love again resubmitted the recommendation through the Office of the Chief of Military History The recommendation was returned without action with another pro forma reason the time limit for submitting World War II awards had passed In 1969 another Medal of Honor recommendation was submitted by Lt Gen Hal B Jennings the Surgeon General of the United States Army In 1970 Stanley R Resor Secretary of the Army recommended approval and forwarded the recommendation to the Secretary of Defense The recommendation was returned without action In 1998 the recommendation was re submitted by Dr Robert West USC Dental School through Congressman Brad Sherman 6 with the support of Maj Gen Patrick D Sculley new chief of the Army Dental Corps 7 Finally on May 1 2002 President George W Bush presented Salomon s Medal of Honor to Dr West 8 West then presented the Medal to Sculley for permanent placement in the Army Medical Department Museum in San Antonio Texas 7 2 A replica of Salomon s Medal of Honor is displayed at the USC Dental School 7 9 The Army Medical Department at this point was supportive Medal of Honor citation editCAPTAIN BEN L SALOMONUNITED STATES ARMY For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Captain Ben L Salomon was serving at Saipan in the Marianas Islands on July 7 1944 as the Surgeon for the 2nd Battalion 105th Infantry Regiment 27th Infantry Division The Regiment s 1st and 2d Battalions were attacked by an overwhelming force estimated between 3 000 and 5 000 Japanese soldiers It was one of the largest attacks attempted in the Pacific Theater during World War II Although both units fought furiously the enemy soon penetrated the Battalions combined perimeter and inflicted overwhelming casualties In the first minutes of the attack approximately 30 wounded soldiers walked crawled or were carried into Captain Salomon s aid station and the small tent soon filled with wounded men As the perimeter began to be overrun it became increasingly difficult for Captain Salomon to work on the wounded He then saw a Japanese soldier bayoneting one of the wounded soldiers lying near the tent Firing from a squatting position Captain Salomon quickly killed the enemy soldier Then as he turned his attention back to the wounded two more Japanese soldiers appeared in the front entrance of the tent As these enemy soldiers were killed four more crawled under the tent walls Rushing them Captain Salomon kicked the knife out of the hand of one shot another and bayoneted a third Captain Salomon butted the fourth enemy soldier in the stomach and a wounded comrade then shot and killed the enemy soldier Realizing the gravity of the situation Captain Salomon ordered the wounded to make their way as best they could back to the regimental aid station while he attempted to hold off the enemy until they were clear Captain Salomon then grabbed a rifle from one of the wounded and rushed out of the tent After four men were killed while manning a machine gun Captain Salomon took control of it When his body was later found 98 dead enemy soldiers were piled in front of his position Captain Salomon s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself his unit and the United States Army Awards edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Medal of Honor Purple Heart American Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign Medal Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one campaign star World War II Victory MedalSee also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp World War II portalList of Medal of Honor recipients List of Jewish Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War IIReferences edit American Dental Association Journal of the American Dental Association 68 168 1964 ISSN 0002 8177 OCLC 1777821 During the 100 years that officers have been eligible two dental officers have been awarded the Medal Alexander Gordan Lyle and a b c d e f William T Bowers Ben Salomon Medal of Honor recipients United States Army Medical Department Office of Medical History Office of the Surgeon General Archived from the original on 2017 08 12 Retrieved 2006 07 27 Biederman Patricia Ward May 5 2012 A Heroic World War II Dentist Finally Gets His Due Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on April 13 2018 Retrieved May 5 2012 News Stories from the Archives homeofheroes com Archived from the original on 22 July 2015 Retrieved 2 July 2015 Section 223 Conditions Not Depriving Medical Units and Establishments of Protection Congressman Brad Sherman May 1 2006 Sherman Instrumental in Awarding Medal of Honor President Presents Constituent With Fallen Hero s Medal Press Release Office of Congressman Brad Sherman Archived from the original on July 4 2006 Retrieved 2006 07 26 a b c Collette Knittel September 2002 Dentist Hero Finally Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor Journal of the California Dental Association Archived from the original on 2010 12 25 Retrieved 2012 02 23 Bush George W May 1 2002 Remarks on presenting the congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Captain Ben L Salomon and Captain Jon E Swanson Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Archived from the original on February 27 2011 Retrieved July 27 2006 Seymour Sy Brody Capt Ben L Salomon Jewish Medal of Honor recipient in World War II Jewish Heroes in America Archived from the original on 7 September 2006 Retrieved 2006 07 26 External links edit Ben L Salomon MOH Recipient Congressional Medal of Honor Society Retrieved 2011 12 26 Collette Knittel September 2002 Dentist Hero Finally Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor Journal of the California Dental Association Archived from the original on 2010 12 25 Retrieved 2006 07 28 Ben L Salomon Archived from the original on November 21 2008 Retrieved September 24 2010 Ben L Salomon Jewish Medal of Honor Recipient J Grit The Internet Index of Tough Jews Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben L Salomon amp oldid 1182382490, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
