Medal of Honor

Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private Joseph William Ozbourn, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Browning Automatic Rifleman serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during the battle for enemy Japanese-held Tinian Island, Marianas Islands, 30 July 1944.

As a member of a platoon assigned the mission of clearing the remaining Japanese troops from dugouts and pillboxes along a tree line, Private Ozbourn, flanked by two men on either side, was moving forward to throw an armed hand grenade into a dugout when a terrific blast from the entrance severely wounded the four men and himself. Unable to throw the grenade into the dugout and with no place to hurl it without endangering the other men, Private Ozbourn unhesitatingly grasped it close to his body and fell upon it, sacrificing his own life to absorb the full impact of the explosion, but saving his comrades.

His great personal valor and unwavering loyalty reflect the highest credit upon Private Ozbourn and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Action Date: 28-Jul-44
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Private
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Regiment: 23d Marines
Division: 4th Marine Division

Ozbourn, Joseph William, Pvt