Rufus G . Herring Rufus Geddie Herring ( June 11 , 1921 – January 31 , 1996 ) was a United States Naval Reserve officer and a recipient of America ' s highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Biography . Rufus Herring attended Davidson College , Davidson , North Carolina where he was initiated into Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity on February 3 , 1939 . After graduating in the spring of 1942 , Rufus Herring enlisted in the U . S . Naval Reserve and subsequently attended the Naval Reserve Midshipman School in New York City . After being commissioned in the rank of Ensign in December 1942 , he received diesel engine instruction at the University of Illinois , followed by orders to the Amphibious Training Base at Solomons , Maryland . In August 1943 he assumed command of the newly completed infantry landing craft and remained her commanding officer during the next year and a half . Herring was promoted to Lieutenant , Junior Grade , in March 1944 and between February and July of that year he participated in the invasions of Kwajalein , Saipan , Tinian and Guam . In February 1945 Herring ' s ship , by then designated a gunboat landing craft ( " LCI ( G ) - 449 " ) , took part in the pre - invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima . On February 17 , while shelling enemy positions in support of Underwater Demolition Team swimmers , the ship was heavily hit by Japan ese counterfire and went out of control . Despite very serious wounds that left him gravely weakened , Herring took the helm , rallied his men , and kept the ship in action . For his " conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty , " he was awarded the Medal of Honor . Sent back to the United States for hospitalization , Herring was promoted to Lieutenant in August 1945 . In April 1947 , he was transferred to the retired list with the rank of Lieutenant Commander . Rufus G . Herring subsequently returned to his hometown of Roseboro , North Carolina , where he pursued a business career . He died on January 31 , 1996 and is buried in Roseboro Cemetery . Medal of Honor citation . Lieutenant , Junior Grade , Rufus Herring ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of LCI ( G ) " 449 " operating as a unit of LCI ( G ) Group EIGHT , during the preinvasion attack on Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945 . Boldly closing the strongly fortified shores under the devastating fire of Japanese coastal defense guns , Lieutenant ( then Lieutenant , Junior Grade , ) Herring directed shattering barrages of 40 - mm . and 20 - mm . gunfire against hostile beaches until struck down by the enemy ' s savage counterfire which blasted the " 449 " ' s heavy guns and whipped her decks into sheets of flame . Regaining consciousness despite profuse bleeding he was again critially wounded when a Japanese mortar crashed the conning station , instantly killing or fatally wounding most of the officers and leaving the ship wallowing without navigational control . Upon recovering the second time , Lieutenant Herring resolutely climbed down to the pilot house and , fighting against his rapidly waning strength , took over the helm , established communication with the engine room and carried on valiantly until relief could be obtained . When no longer able to stand , he propped himself against empty shell cases and rallied his men to the aid of the wounded ; he maintained position in the firing line with his 20 - mm guns in action in the face of sustained enemy fire and conned his crippled ship to safety . His unwavering fortitude , aggressive perseverance and indomitable spirit against terrific odds reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Herring and uphold the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service .