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World War I Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Gunnery Sergeant Ernest August Janson, USMC
Was awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor
Sergeant Major Ernest August Janson was born 17 August 1878, in New York, New York. After nearly ten years honorable service with the U.S. Army, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on 14 June 1910 at the Marine Barracks, Bremerton, Washington. He was appointed a corporal, 14 March 1911, and honorably discharged 13 June 1914.
Janson re-enlisted on 17 June 1914, and was appointed a sergeant on 24 August 1914. During this second enlistment, he served on the USS Nebraska from 13 July 1914 until 30 January 1915; on detached duty on the USS Montana from 30 January 1915 until 6 February 1915; on the USS Nebraska again from 6 February 1915 until 22 October 1916; and at Norfolk, Virginia, from 22 October 1916 until 25 May 1917.
Sergeant Janson sailed for France on the USS De Kalb on 14 June 1917, and disembarked at St. Nazaire, France, 27 June 1917. Appointed a gunnery sergeant, a temporary warrant for the duration of the war, on 1 July 1917 he served honorably with the 49th Company, 5th Regiment, in its various activities and on 6 June 1918, was severely wounded in action.
For his conspicuous service on that date, Sergeant Major Janson was awarded the Congressional (Army) Medal of Honor and the Navy Medal of Honor. His citation, taken from General Order, War Department, No. 34, of 1919, reads as follows: "
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Immediately after the company to which he belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142 several hostile counter-attacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. Gunnery Sergeant Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative, and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machine gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops."
The French Medaille Militaire which carries the Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Montenegran Silver Medal, the Portuguese Cruz de Guerra, and the Italian Croce di Guerra were also awarded him for this same act of bravery.
In November 1918, Sergeant Major Janson returned to the United States and was admitted to the Naval Hospital, New York, for treatment of the wounds received in action 6 June.
At the expiration of his second enlistment, 25 April 1919, he was honorably discharged. He re-enlisted 7 May 1919, and served the full term of this enlistment as a recruiter at New York City. He was honorably discharged on 6 May 1923.
His fourth-enlistment took place 7 May 1923, and he remained on recruiting duty until 20 July 1926, when he was transferred to Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. On his return to duty at Quantico, he was reinstated to his wartime rank of gunnery sergeant and requested retirement the following month. He was advanced one grade to sergeant major on 31 August 1926, and placed on the retired list, 30 September 1926.
Sergeant Major Janson returned to New York and during his last years lived on Long Island. He died after a brief illness, 14 May 1930, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. At the time of his death, he was survived by a sister, Mrs. Louise Bocker of Stony Brook, New York.
CITATIONS:
JANSON, ERNEST AUGUST (Navy Medal)
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 49th Company. (Served under name of Charles F. Hoffman) Born: 17 August 1878, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.) Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Immediately after the company to which G/Sgt. Janson belonged, had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. G/Sgt. Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with 5 light machineguns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the 2 leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machinegun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
HOFFMAN, CHARLES F. (Army Medal)
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 49th Company, 5th Regiment, 2d Division, (Name changed to Ernest August Janson, see p. 444. ) Place and date: Near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born. 17 August 1878, New York, N.Y. G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor). Citation: Immediately after the company to which he belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. G/Sgt. Hoffman was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with 5 light machineguns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the 2 leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative, and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machinegun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
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