Samuel Gross (Medal of Honor)

Infobox Military Person
name=Samuel Gross
born= birth date|1891|5|9
died= death date and age|1934|9|13|1891|5|9
placeofbirth=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=
rank= Private
unit=23rd Company
commands=
battles= United States Occupation of Haiti in 1915
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Samuel Gross (originally Samuel Marguiles) (May 9, 1891–September 13, 1934) was a Private in the United States Marine Corps, 23d Company who earned the Medal of Honor for his efforts during the United States occupation of Haiti in 1915.

Biography

Gross was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is generally believed to be the only Jewish Marine to receive the Medal of Honor. During the battle he saved the life of Smedley Butler who also was a Medal of Honor recipient and was one of only 19 people to receive 2 Medals of Honor.

He died September 9, 1934 and is buried in Nebo Cemetery Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.findagrave|7227433 Retrieved on 2007-12-09] His grave can be found in section I, lot 50.findagrave|7227433 Retrieved on 2007-12-09]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 23d Co. (Real name is Marguiles, Samuel.) Born: May 9, 1891, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania.

Citation:

:In company with members of the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and the marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut, Gross participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, November 17, 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Gross was the second man to pass through the breach in the face of constant fire from the Cacos and, thereafter, for a 10-minute period, engaged the enemy in desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.cite web
accessdate=2007-12-09
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/haiti1915.html
title = Samuel Gross, Medal of Honor recipient
work = United States occupation of Haiti (1915)
publisher Army Medal of Honor website
date = July 16, 2007]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients

Notes

References

*findagrave|7227433 Retrieved on 2007-12-09
*cite web
accessdate=2007-12-09
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/haiti1915.html
title = Samuel Gross, Medal of Honor recipient
work = United States occupation of Haiti (1915)
publisher Army Medal of Honor website
date = July 16, 2007
*cite web
accessdate=2007-12-09
url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1900_wars/h1_gross_samuel.html
title=Medal Of Honor Citation for Samuel Gross
publisher=HomeofHeroes.com
publisher=C. Douglas Sterner
date=

*Brody, Seymour. [http://www.fau.edu/library/brody34.htm Three Unknown Jewish Military Heroes.] via Florida Atlantic University.

Persondata
NAME= Gross, Samuel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=