Aquilla J . Dyess Lieutenant Colonel Aquilla James " Jimmie " Dyess ( January 11 , 1909 – February 2 , 1944 ) was a United States Marine Corps officer who was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for " conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life " at the head of his troops during World War II in the Battle of Kwajalein , on Namur Island , Kwajalein Atoll , Marshall Islands on February 2 , 1944 . Biography . He was born on January 11 , 1909 in Andersonville , Georgia . He was a distant cousin of fellow World War II veteran William Dyess . As a youth , he attained the rank of Eagle Scout , highest in the Boy Scouts . Dyess is one of only nine known Eagle Scouts who also received the Medal of Honor ; the others are Robert Edward Femoyer , Eugene B . Fluckey , Thomas R . Norris , Arlo L . Olson , Mitchell Paige , Ben L . Salomon , Leo K . Thorsness , and Jay Zeamer , Jr . . He is also the only American to receive both the Carnegie Medal for civilian heroism and the Medal of Honor . In 1929 , he was awarded the Carnegie Medal for saving two swimmers off the coast of Charleston , South Carolina in 1928 . Dyess graduated from Clemson College , Clemson , South Carolina , in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture . At Clemson , he served as a cadet major in the Reserve Officers ' Training Corps , and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Army Infantry Reserve in 1931 . In civilian life , he was a general contractor . He also served as assistant director of a summer camp for boys . Dyess was appointed a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve in November 1936 and wa assigned to 19th Battalion , a reserve unit in Augusta Georgia . In 1937 , 1stLt Dyess was awarded the bronze star as a shooting member of the Marine Corps Rifle Team which won the Hilton trophy in the National matches , and was given the same award in 1938 as an alternate member of the team that captured the Rattlesnake trophy in the matches . Lieutenant Colonel Dyess was killed on February 2 , 1944 by a burst of enemy machine gun fire while standing on the parapet of an anti - tank trench directing a group of infantry in a flanking attack against the last Japanese position in the northern part of Namur Island . In this final assault , LtCol Dyess posted himself between the opposing lines and , exposed to fire from heavy automatic weapon s , led his troops in the advance . Wherever the attack was slowed by heavier enemy fire , he quickly appeared and placed himself at the head of his men and inspired them to push forward . Lieutenant Colonel Dyess was initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Roi - Namur Island , Kwajalein Atoll , Marshall Islands . Later , in 1948 , he was re - interred in Westover Memorial Park Cemetery , Augusta , Georgia . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to LIEUTENANT COLONEL AQUILLA J . DYESS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE 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 as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion , Twenty - Fourth Marines , Reinforced , Fourth Marine Division , in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Namur Island , Kwajalein Atoll , Marshall Islands , February 1 and 2 , 1944 . Undaunted by severe fire from automatic Japanese weapons , Lieutenant Colonel Dyess launched a powerful final attack on the second day of the assault , unhesitatingly posting himself between the opposing lines to point out objectives and avenues of approach and personally leading the advancing troops . Alert , and determined to quicken the pace of the offensive against increased enemy fire , he was constantly at the head of advance units , inspiring his men to push forward until the Japanese had been driven back to a small center of resistance and victory assured . While standing on the parapet of an antitank trench directing a group of infantry in a flanking attack against the last enemy position , Lieutenant Colonel Dyess was killed by a burst of enemy machine - gun fire . His daring and forceful leadership and his valiant fighting spirit in the face of terrific opposition were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service . He gallantly gave his life for his country . / S / FRANKLIN D . ROOSEVELT Posthumous honors . In 1945 , the destroyer was named in honor of LtCol Dyess . On October 30 , 1998 , the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Augusta , Georgia was dedicated to LtCol . A . James Dyess , USMCR . The Georgia - Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America celebrates Dyess ' life in a triennial Jimmie Dyess Days event at Fort Gordon . The four - lane highway from Interstate 20 in Augusta , Georgia to Fort Gordon is named the Jimmie Dyess Parkway in honor of Lt . Col . Dyess .