This hardcore Texan is William G. Harrell. Enlisting in the Marines in 1942, Harrell would eventually find himself fighting the Japanese on the island of Iwo Jima with the 28th Marines.
On the night of March 3, 1945. Sgt. Harrell was in a foxhole with another Marine (Joe H. Gaza) when all of the sudden, Japanese troops infiltrated the lines and crept up to his position. Sgt. Harrell quickly opened fire with his carbine and killed two. The enemy began bombarding the hole with hand grenades and missiles, in which one exploding missile tore off his left hand and fractured his thigh; he was attempting to reload the carbine one handed, when he was again wounded by a Japanese who rushed the foxhole wielding a saber. Sgt. Harrell succeeded in drawing his pistol and killing his opponent and then ordered his wounded companion to leave him and find a safe place.
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Exhausted by profuse bleeding but still unbeaten, he fearlessly met the challenge of two more enemy troops who charged his position and placed a grenade near his head. Killing one man with his pistol, he grasped the grenade with his good right hand, pushed it painfully toward the crouching enemy soldier, killing him, but at the price of loosing his other hand from the explosion.
At dawn Sgt. Harrell was found still alive in his foxhole with the bodies of 12 dead Japanese.
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For his actions, Sgt. Harrell was awarded the Medal of Honor.
After the war, Harrell worked for the Veteran's Administration and specialized in helping other amputees. He got married and had children.
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Tragically, on August 9, 1964, Harrell took his own life after he killed 2 of his friends in his own home. The motivation for the killings was never determined.
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