George H . Cannon First Lieutenant George Ham Cannon , USMC , ( November 5 , 1915 – December 7 , 1941 ) was the first U . S . Marine in World War II to receive the nation ' s highest military award — the Medal of Honor . He posthumously received the medal for " distinguished conduct in the line of his profession , extraordinary courage , and disregard of his own condition " during the bombardment of Midway Island by Japanese forces on December 7 , 1941 . He remained at his Command Post despite being mortally wounded by enemy shell fire . He refused to be evacuated until his men who had been wounded by the same shell were evacuated , and he continued to direct the reorganization of his Command Post until forcibly removed . He refused medical attention until he was assured communications were restored to his Command Post . As a result of his utter disregard of his own condition , he later died from loss of blood . Biography . George Ham Cannon was born on November 5 , 1915 in Webster Groves , Missouri . He later moved to Detroit , Michigan , where he graduated from Southeastern High School . He also attended the Culver Military Academy in Culver , Indiana , prior to entering the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor . While in attendance at that university he was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps , and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in June 1938 . He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Engineer Reserve , U . S . Army during his last year in the University of Michigan . While at the University of Michigan he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity . He resigned his commission in the army upon graduation , in order to accept a commission as second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps . Commissioned on June 25 , 1938 , he was ordered to duty on July 5 , 1938 , at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to await assignment to the next class of Basic School . He began studies on July 18 , that year . His first tour of duty as a U . S . Marine was on board the , following the completion of his schooling May 20 , 1939 . He was assigned to the Post Service Battalion at the Marine Barracks , Quantico , Virginia , on July 10 , 1940 , and two weeks later entered the Base Defense Weapons Course at the Marine Corps Schools . Ordered to the Marine Corps Base in San Diego , California , in December 1940 , he joined Battery H , 2d Defense Battalion on February 16 , 1941 . In March 1941 , the battery joined the 6th Defense Battalion and in July the unit sailed for Pearl Harbor . In August 1941 , he was promoted to first lieutenant with the rank dating back to from June 25 , 1941 . On September 7 , 1941 , 1stLt Cannon reported to Midway Island as a platoon leader and member of the Battalion Coding Board . He was killed in action on the same day the Japanese drew the United States into World War II , December 7 , 1941 , during the sneak attack by Japanese forces . A destroyer was named in honor of 1stLt Cannon , sponsored by his mother , and launched at the Drave Corporation , Wilmington , Delaware , on May 25 , 1943 . Decorations . In addition to the Medal of Honor , 1stLt Cannon was awarded the Purple Heart ; American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp ; Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal ; and the World War II Victory Medal posthumously . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Congressional MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to FIRST LIEUTENANT GEORGE H . CANNON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service during an attack on the United States Fleet in Midway Islands as set forth in the following CITATION : / S / FRANKLIN D . ROOSEVELT Honors . The first school on Midway Island , which was established after World War , is named the George Cannon school , " in honor of Midway ' s war hero " .