Robert A . Owens Sergeant Robert Allen Owens ( September 13 , 1920 – November 1 , 1943 ) was a United States Marine who was killed in action during World War II . He was posthumous ly awarded his nation ' s highest military award — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic actions on his first day in combat at Bougainville . The commanding general of the 3rd Marine Division described Owens ' heroism — " Among many brave acts on the beachhead of Bougainville , no other single act saved the lives of more of his comrades or served to contribute so much to the success of the landings . " Early years . Robert Allen Owens was born in Greenville , South Carolina , on September 13 , 1920 . The family later moved to Spartanburg , which young Owens listed as his home town . After two years in high school , he went to work as a textile worker in a neighboring town . He worked at that for five years before his enlistment in the Marine Corps on February 10 , 1942 . Marine Corps service . In 1942 , Owens went through recruit training at Parris Island , South Carolina , and then Owens continued his training with the 1st Training Battalion of the 1st Marine Division , then located in New River , North Carolina . In June , the unit ' s designation was changed to Company A , 1st Battalion , 3rd Marines , 3rd Marine Division . The Division left the South Pacific and the 3rd Marines ' first overseas station at Tutuila , American Samoa , in September 1942 . Later they went to New Zealand and Guadalcanal to train for their first combat assignment . After 21 months of training , Owens would see his first and only combat mission . Medal of Honor action . On November 1 , 1943 , the Marine amphibious landing at Cape Torokina , Bougainville , was strongly resisted by the sole piece of artillery available to the Japanese defenders , a well - camouflaged 75 millimeter regimental gun . Strategically placed and protected within a coconut log bunker , the gun had already destroyed four landing craft and damaged ten others , seriously threatening the success of the operation . No boats could approach the beach without passing within 150 yards or less from the muzzle . The emplacement was so situated that it could only be attacked from the front and also in a position whereby rifle fire and grenades could not reach the gun crew . Sizing up the situation , Sgt Owens decided that the only way to neutralize the gun was to charge it directly from the front . Calling on four volunteers to assist him , he positioned them where they could place supporting bunkers under fire . At the moment when he judged he had a fair chance of reaching his objective , the six - feet - three , 232 - pound Marine charged right into the very mouth of the still rapidly firing cannon . Entering the emplacement through the fire port , he chased the Japanese out the back where they were cut down by his rifleman . Pursuing them , he in turn was instantly killed . It was discovered that a round had been placed in the chamber and the breech was almost closed at the moment that Sgt Owens came through the fire port . Over 150 rounds of high - explosive shells were stacked and ready for firing . The enemy had counted heavily on this weapon to stop the Marine landing . They made several determined but fruitless efforts to recapture the piece . Maj Gen Allen H . Turnage , Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division , said , " Among many brave acts on the beachhead of Bougainville , no other single act saved the lives of more of his comrades or served to contribute so much to the success of the landings . " Posthumous recognitions . General Alexander A . Vandegrift , then Commandant of the Marine Corps , and Maj Gen Turnage so strongly recommended the Medal of Honor for Sgt Owens , who had already received the Navy Cross posthumously , that the case was reviewed and the generals ' recommendations were adopted . The medal was presented to the hero ' s father at his home in Drayton , South Carolina , on August 12 , 1945 , by Maj Gen Clayton B . Vogel , then Commanding General at Parris Island . Initially buried in the Army , Navy , and Marine Corps Cemetery on Bougainville , Sgt Owens ' remains were later reinterred in the Fort McKinley U . S . Military Cemetery . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to SERGEANT ROBERT A . OWENS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a marine division , in action against enemy Japanese forces during extremely hazardous landing operations at Cape Torokina , Bougainville , Solomon Islands , on 1 November 1943 . Forced to pass within disastrous range of a strongly protected , well - camouflaged Japanese 75 - mm . regimental gun strategically located on the beach , our landing units were suffering heavy losses in casualties and boats while attempting to approach the beach , and the success of the operations was seriously threatened . Observing the ineffectiveness of marine rifle and grenade attacks against the incessant , devastating fire of the enemy weapon and aware of the urgent need for prompt action , Sgt . Owens unhesitatingly determined to charge the gun bunker from the front and , calling on 4 of his comrades to assist him , carefully placed them to cover the fire of the 2 adjacent hostile bunkers . Choosing a moment that provided a fair opportunity for passing these bunkers , he immediately charged into the mouth of the steadily firing cannon and entered the emplacement through the fire port , driving the guncrew out of the rear door and insuring their destruction before he himself was wounded . Indomitable and aggressive in the face of almost certain death , Sgt . Owens silenced a powerful gun which was of inestimable value to the Japanese defense and , by his brilliant initiative and heroic spirit of self - sacrifice , contributed immeasurably to the success of the vital landing operations . His valiant conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U . S . Naval Service . / S / HARRY S . TRUMAN Namesake . The , launched on January 28 , 1948 , a U . S . Navy Gearing class destroyer , was named in honor of Sgt Owens .