McGill joined the Army from Ada, Oklahoma in November 1940,[1] and by March 4, 1944, was serving as a Sergeant in Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. During an enemy attack on that day, on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, he held his ground against the numerically superior force. After ordering the only other un-wounded man in his squad to retreat, he continued to hold his position alone and eventually engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat until he was killed. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on September 11, 1944.
A section of Interstate 40 in Knoxville, Tennessee is named "Troy A. McGill Memorial Highway".
Medal of Honor citationedit
Sergeant McGill's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Los Negros Island, Admiralty Group, on 4 March 1944. In the early morning hours Sgt. McGill, with a squad of 8 men, occupied a revetment which bore the brunt of a furious attack by approximately 200 drink-crazed enemy troops. Although covered by crossfire from machine-guns on the right and left flank he could receive no support from the remainder of our troops stationed at his rear. All members of the squad were killed or wounded except Sgt. McGill and another man, whom he ordered to return to the next revetment. Courageously resolved to hold his position at all cost, he fired his weapon until it ceased to function. Then, with the enemy only 5 yards away, he charged from his foxhole in the face of certain death and clubbed the enemy with his rifle in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. At dawn 105 enemy dead were found around his position. Sgt. McGill's intrepid stand was an inspiration to his comrades and a decisive factor in the defeat of a fanatical enemy.
troy, mcgill, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 202. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Troy A McGill news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message Troy A McGill July 15 1914 March 4 1944 was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military s highest decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Admiralty Islands campaign of World War II Troy A McGillBorn 1914 07 15 July 15 1914Knoxville TennesseeDiedMarch 4 1944 1944 03 04 aged 29 Los Negros Admiralty IslandsPlace of burialKnoxville National Cemetery Knoxville TennesseeAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States ArmyYears of service1940 1944RankSergeantUnit5th Cavalry Regiment 1st Cavalry DivisionBattles warsWorld War II Admiralty Islands campaign Battle of Los Negros AwardsMedal of Honor Contents 1 Biography 2 Medal of Honor citation 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography editMcGill joined the Army from Ada Oklahoma in November 1940 1 and by March 4 1944 was serving as a Sergeant in Troop G 5th Cavalry Regiment 1st Cavalry Division During an enemy attack on that day on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands he held his ground against the numerically superior force After ordering the only other un wounded man in his squad to retreat he continued to hold his position alone and eventually engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat until he was killed For these actions he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later on September 11 1944 McGill aged 29 at his death was buried at Knoxville National Cemetery in his birth city of Knoxville Tennessee A section of Interstate 40 in Knoxville Tennessee is named Troy A McGill Memorial Highway Medal of Honor citation editSergeant McGill s official Medal of Honor citation reads For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Los Negros Island Admiralty Group on 4 March 1944 In the early morning hours Sgt McGill with a squad of 8 men occupied a revetment which bore the brunt of a furious attack by approximately 200 drink crazed enemy troops Although covered by crossfire from machine guns on the right and left flank he could receive no support from the remainder of our troops stationed at his rear All members of the squad were killed or wounded except Sgt McGill and another man whom he ordered to return to the next revetment Courageously resolved to hold his position at all cost he fired his weapon until it ceased to function Then with the enemy only 5 yards away he charged from his foxhole in the face of certain death and clubbed the enemy with his rifle in hand to hand combat until he was killed At dawn 105 enemy dead were found around his position Sgt McGill s intrepid stand was an inspiration to his comrades and a decisive factor in the defeat of a fanatical enemy See also edit nbsp Biography portal List of Medal of Honor recipientsReferences edit WWII Army Enlistment Records Medal of Honor recipients World War II M S Medal of Honor citations United States Army Center of Military History June 8 2009 Archived from the original on 2008 04 30 Retrieved 2008 01 03 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Troy A McGill amp oldid 1206848751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
