Question: For what WWII battle did the Army Lieutenant with initial W who fought in May 1944 receive the Medal of Honor ?

text: List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
W

This is a list of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II. The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States or an opposing foreign force. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. World War II, or the Second World War, was a global military conflict, the joining of what had initially been two separate conflicts. The first began in Asia in 1937 as the Second Sino-Japanese War; the other began in Europe in 1939 with the German and Soviet invasion of Poland. This global conflict split the majority of the world's nations into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers. The United States was drawn into World War II on December 8, 1941, a day after the Axis-member Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu that killed almost 2,500 people in what was considered the biggest peacetime loss on American soil inflicted by foreign people at that time. For actions during World War II, 472 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor. Seventeen of these were Japanese-Americans fighting in both Europe and the Pacific, many of which were upgraded from Distinguished Service Crosses during the Clinton administration. Additionally, Douglas Albert Munro was the only serviceman from the United States Coast Guard in United States military history to receive the Medal for his actions during the war. The earliest action for which a U.S. serviceman earned a World War II Medal of Honor was the attack on Pearl Harbor, for which 17 U.S. servicemen were awarded a Medal, although they did so while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force rather than enemy since the United States was neutral during the events of December 7, 1941.
Name Service Rank Place of action Date of action Notes
George E. Wahlen Navy Pharmacist 's Mate Second class Iwo Jima , Volcano Islands group March 3 , 1945 Although seriously wounded he risked his life to save the lives of several Marines
Francis B. Wai † Army Captain Leyte , Philippines October 20 , 1944 Deliberately exposed himself to fire from Japanese pillboxes and led men on the beachhead ; was killed in assault on last pillbox . One of 22 Asian American soldiers who received their medals in 2000 , after a study revealed discrimination that caused them to be overlooked at the time
Jonathan M. Wainwright , IV Army Lieutenant General Philippines March 12 , 1942 - May 7 , 1942 Wainwright commanded the doomed Allied garrison of Corregidor and ordered its surrender to Japanese forces in 1942 . He was the highest ranking U.S. officer in captivity during his three years as a prisoner of war . The general would witness the surrender of the Japanese forces aboard the USS Missouri that brought about the end of the war . Wainwright was nominated for the Medal of Honor early in his captivity , but it was rejected due to the opposition of General Douglas MacArthur , who felt that Corregidor should not have been surrendered . MacArthur did not oppose the renewed proposal in 1945
Kenneth N. Walker † Air Forces Brigadier General Rabaul , New Britain January 5 , 1943 For Conspicuous Leadership above and beyond the call of Duty
Herman C. Wallace † Army Private First Class near Prümzurlay , Germany February 27 , 1945
Kenneth A. Walsh Marine Corps First Lieutenant Solomon Islands area August 15 , 1943 and August 30 , 1943 One of the top Marine fighter aces of the war with 21 kills
William G. Walsh † Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Iwo Jima , Volcano Islands February 27 , 1945 For leading his Marines in a fierce assault on an enemy held ridge before he sacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his body
James R. Ward † Navy Seaman First Class Pearl Harbor , Hawaii December 7 , 1941 During evacuation of USS Oklahoma , remained in a turret , holding a flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape , thereby sacrificing his own life
Keith L. Ware Army Lieutenant Colonel near Sigolsheim , France December 26 , 1944
Henry F. Warner † Army Corporal near Dom Butgenbach , Belgium December 20 , 1944 - December 21 , 1944
George Watson † Army Private at sea near New Guinea March 8 , 1943 Watson was one of seven African American soldiers who received their medals in a belated 1997 ceremony , after a study revealed discrimination that caused them to be overlooked at the time
Wilson D. Watson Marine Corps Private Iwo Jima , Volcano Islands February 26 , 1945 - February 27 , 1945 Risked his life fighting the enemy single-handedly for 15 minutes until his platoon could catch up to him , personally killing 60 of the enemy
Robert T. Waugh † Army First Lieutenant near Tremensucli , Italy May 11 , 1944 - May 14 , 1944
David C. Waybur Army First Lieutenant near Agrigento , Sicily July 17 , 1943 Led his patrol in holding off an Italian tank attack despite severe wounds . He later returned to combat and was killed in 1945
Ellis R. Weicht † Army Sergeant St. Hippolyte , France December 3 , 1944
Walter C. Wetzel † Army Private First Class Birken , Germany April 3 , 1945
Eli L. Whiteley Army First Lieutenant Sigolsheim , France December 27 , 1944
Hulon B. Whittington Army Sergeant near Grimesnil , France July 29 , 1944
Paul J. Wiedorfer Army Private near , Chaumont , Belgium December 25 , 1944
Thomas W. Wigle † Army Second Lieutenant Monte Frassino , Italy September 14 , 1944