Question: Which World War 2 Medal of Honor recipient with a date of action in 1944 ranked just above Major ?

text: List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
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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 L. Mabry , Jr Army Lieutenant Colonel Hurtgen Forest near Schevenhütte , Germany November 20 , 1944
Douglas MacArthur Army General Bataan Peninsula , Philippines April 1 , 1942 With his father , Arthur MacArthur , Jr. , became first father and son pair to both receive the Medal of Honor
Charles A. MacGillivary Army Sergeant near Woelfling , France January 1 , 1945 Immigrant from Canada
John D. Magrath † Army Private First Class near Castel d'Aiano , Italy April 14 , 1945 His citation reads as follows : He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when his company was pinned down by heavy artillery , mortar , and small arms fire , near Castel d'Aiano , Italy . Volunteering to act as a scout , armed with only a rifle , he charged headlong into withering fire , killing 2 Germans and wounding 3 in order to capture a machinegun . Carrying this enemy weapon across an open field through heavy fire , he neutralized 2 more machinegun nests ; he then circled behind 4 other Germans , killing them with a burst as they were firing on his company . Spotting another dangerous enemy position to this right , he knelt with the machinegun in his arms and exchanged fire with the Germans until he had killed 2 and wounded 3 . The enemy now poured increased mortar and artillery fire on the company 's newly won position . Pfc . Magrath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the shelling in order to collect a report of casualties . Heroically carrying out this task , he made the supreme sacrifice -- a climax to the valor and courage that are in keeping with highest traditions of the military service
Joe E. Mann † Army Private First Class Best , Holland September 18 , 1944 Private First Class - Joe Eugene Mann , Company H , 502d Parachute Infantry , 101st Airborne Division . His citation reads as follows : Mann boldly crept to within rocket-launcher range of an enemy artillery position and , in the face of heavy enemy fire , destroyed an 88-mm gun and an ammunition dump . Completely disregarding the great danger involved , he remained in his exposed position , and , with his M1 rifle , killed the enemy one by one until he was wounded four times . Taken to a covered position , he insisted on returning to a forward position to stand guard during the night . On the following morning the enemy launched a concerted attack and advanced to within a few yards of the position , throwing hand grenades as they approached . One of these landed within a few feet of Pfc . Mann . Unable to raise his arms , which were bandaged to his body , he yelled Grenade and threw his body over the grenade , and as it exploded , died . His outstanding gallantry above and beyond the call of duty and his magnificent conduct were an everlasting inspiration to his comrades for whom he gave his life
Harry L. Martin † Marine Corps First Lieutenant Iwo Jima , Volcano Islands March 26 , 1945 Sacrificed his life to help rescue some of his men who had been overrun by the enemy
Joe P. Martinez † Army Private Attu , Aleutians May 26 , 1943 First private to earn the medal in World War II and the first and only soldier to earn such medal in a battle that occurred on American soil
Leonard F. Mason † Marine Corps Private First Class Asan-Adelup Beachhead , Guam , Marianas Islands July 22 , 1944 For single-handedly knocking out two enemy machine guns despite being mortally wounded
Archibald Mathies † Air Forces Sergeant over Germany February 20 , 1944
Jack W. Mathis † Air Forces First Lieutenant over Vegesack , Germany March 18 , 1943
Robert D. Maxwell Army Technician Fifth Grade near Besançon , France September 7 , 1944
Martin O . May † Army Private First Class legusuku-Yama , Ie Shima , Ryukyu Islands April 19 , 1945 - April 21 , 1945 Defended his machine gun position for 3 days against Japanese attacks , even when wounded , thus maintaining the American lines . Refusing to withdraw when his machine gun was disabled , he used hand grenades to fight to his death
Melvin Mayfield Army Corporal Cordillera Mountains , Luzon , Philippines July 29 , 1945 Mayfield 's actions , on July 29 , 1945 , were the last to earn a Medal of Honor prior to the August 15 , 1945 , end of hostilities in World War II - though some honorees may have been cited for their Medal after Mayfield 's recognition on May 31 , 1946
Thomas E. McCall Army Staff Sergeant near San Angelo , Italy January 22 , 1944
David McCampbell Navy Commander First and second battles of the Philippine Sea June 19 , 1944 Top Navy flying ace with 34 kills , was also awarded the Navy Cross
Bruce McCandless Navy Commander Battle off Savo Island November 12 , 1942 - November 13 , 1942
Robert H. McCard † Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Saipan , Marianas Islands June 16 , 1944 For saving the lives of his tank crewmen
Lloyd G. McCarter Army Private Corregidor , Philippines February 16 , 1945 - February 19 , 1945
Joseph J. McCarthy Marine Corps Captain Iwo Jima , Volcano Islands February 21 , 1945 Risked his life to eliminate several enemy troops so his men could move forward
Richard M. McCool Navy Lieutenant off Okinawa June 10 , 1945 - June 11 , 1945