Saloman was initially rejected for the Medal of Honor because medical professionals aren’t supposed to bear arms against the enemy.
Left : Congressional Medal of Honor Society / right field : USC LibraryBenjamin Lewis Salomon
In 1942 , Benjamin Lewis Salomon fall in the US Army .
Hailing from humble rootage in Milwaukee , and eventually going on to own his own dental practice , Benjamin Salomon never could have imagined he would one day be one of only three dental officers in the U.S. Army to experience the Medal of Honor .
Left: Congressional Medal of Honor Society / Right: USC LibraryBenjamin Lewis Salomon
Salomon start out in the Army as an infantry buck private .
In the mornings he would crop on soldiers teeth , and in the afternoon , he would teach infantry tactic . shortly , his superiors begin to observe how worthful he was becoming to the Infantry .
He prove to be an expert rifle and pistol marksman and soon exploit his way up to a serjeant-at-law . finally , he was transfer to the Army Dental Corps and commission to be a first lieutenant .
Wikimedia CommonsThe United States Army Medal of Honor
He was even awarded the title of “ best all - around soldier ” in his unit of measurement .
In May of 1944 , Salomon was promote to a captain of the 105th Infantry Regiment , 27th Infantry Division . He had proved himself in training , and his master were eager to see him prove himself in battle .
They did n’t have to wait long .
Just one calendar month after becoming captain , Salomon saw his first battle . He had no way of life of knowing it would also be his last .
As there was not much dental work to be done during alive scrap , Salomon volunteered to go ashore in Saipan with the 105th Infantry ’s large number . He would replace the 2nd Battalion ’s sawbones , who had been wounded in a anterior battle .
At this point , the Americans had annihilate a huge part of the Japanese Army , killing well-nigh 30,000 soldier . So , Japanese commandant General Yoshitsugu Saito come up with a new plan of attack — attack while come on , and keep attacking until you die .
And attack and advance they did . With no more esteem for their own aliveness , the Japanese invaded the front lines , spending 15 hours shooting at the Americans .
When they attacked , Salomon was 50 chiliad from the front bloodline , watching over 30 wounded soldiers in his aid tent . Seeing the Nipponese advancing , he ordered his faculty to empty the wounded , differentiate them he would carry the Japanese off until everyone was safe .
Wikimedia CommonsThe United States Army Medal of Honor
His infantry never saw him alive again . When they return after the conflict they found him surrounded by 98 idle Japanese soldier , all of whom he had kill alone . He had been blast 76 different clock time , 24 of them while he was potentially still animated .
The day he was find , his fellow foot soldier began ready a recommendation for the Medal of Honor . He had taken out closely 100 enemy soldiers on his own and had saved the life of unnumbered wound soldier .
Initially , the request was turn down . agree to the rule of the Geneva Convention , medical professional can not bear arm against the enemy . It also states that the ribbon can not be awarded for actions taken on the “ offensive . ” However , the postulation was ultimately sanction , due to a bit of lives saved , and courage displayed by Salomon .
In 2002 , President George W. Bush posthumously grant the Medal of Honor to Benjamin Lewis Salomon . It is display at the USC Dental School , where Salomon attend to .
In addition to the Medal of Honor , Benjamin Salomon was award a Purple Heart , the American Defense Service Medal , The American Campaign Medal , The Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal , and the World War II Victory Medal .
Enjoy this clause on Benjamin Salomon ? Next , check out the harrowingphotos taken inside Japanese internment camps . Then , take a look at these photo that showWorld War II in color .
