Richard E . Kraus Private First Class Richard Edward Kraus ( November 24 , 1925October 3 , 1944 ) was a United States Marine killed in action during the World War II campaign on Peleliu Island on October 3 , 1944 . He posthumous ly received the Medal of Honor , the highest military tribute awarded in the United States . Biography . Richard E . Kraus was born in Chicago , Illinois , on November 24 , 1925 , and moved to Minneapolis , Minnesota when he was seven . He attended Edison High School there and was inducted into the United States Marine Corps on his 18th birthday , after previously trying to enlist . On the occasion of his heroism and death , he was serving as an amphibious tractor driver with the 8th Amphibious Tractor Battalion , Fleet Marine Force , which participated in the D - Day landings on Peleliu . He and three companions had accepted a volunteer mission to evacuate a wounded fellow Marine from the front lines . As the group made their way forward , they were met by an intense barrage of hand grenade fire , which forced them to take cover . While returning to the rear , the stretcher party observed two men approaching who they believed were Marines . Upon challenging the pair , they proved to be Japanese , and one of the enemy responded by throwing a hand grenade into the midst of the group . PFC Kraus unhesitatingly hurled himself on top of it , and by his prompt action and personal valor in the face of certain death , saved the lives of his three comrades . Private First Class Kraus had been overseas only three months at the time of the Peleliu battle , which was his first campaign . He was initially buried in the U . S . Armed Forces Cemetery on Peleliu , Palau Islands . Later , in 1948 , his remains were reinterred in Ft . Snelling National Cemetery , Ft . Snelling , Minnesota , at his parents ' request . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RICHARD E . KRAUS 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 while serving with the Eighth Amphibian Tractor Battalion , Third Amphibious Corps , Fleet Marine Force , in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu , Palau Islands , on 3 October 1944 . Unhesitatingly volunteering for the extremely hazardous mission of evacuating a wounded comrade from the front lines , Private First Class Kraus and three companions courageously made their way forward and successfully penetrated the lines for some distance before the enemy opened with an intense , devastating barrage of hand grenades which forced the stretcher party to take cover and subsequently abandon the mission . While returning to the rear , they observed two men approaching who appeared to be Marines and immediately demanded the password . When , instead of answering , one of the two Japanese threw a hand grenade into the midst of the group , Private First Class Kraus heroically flung himself upon the grenade and , covering it with his body , absorbed the full impact of the explosion and was instantly killed . By his prompt action and great personal valor in the face of almost certain death , he saved the lives of his three companions , and his loyal spirit of self - sacrifice reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service . He gallantly gave his life for his comrades . / S / HARRY S . TRUMAN Memorials . Richard E . Kraus is one of three Minnesota Medal of Honor recipients from the Northeast Twin Cities who are named on the Anoka County Veteran ' s memorial at Bunker Hills Anoka County Park in Coon Rapids , Minnesota . The other two are James D . La Belle and Richard K . Sorenson . The United States Navy destroyer also was named in his honor . The Assault Amphibian Schools Battalion ( Camp Pendleton CA ) was named and dedicated in his memory .