Ernest A . Janson Sergeant Major Ernest August Janson ( August 17 , 1878 – May 14 , 1930 ) was a United States Marine who was highly decorated for his heroic actions in World War I , receiving both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor and the French Medaille Militaire , as well as decorations from Montenegro , Portugal , and Italy . During World War I he served under the name Charles F . Hoffman . Biography . Ernest August Janson was born on August 17 , 1878 , in New York , New York . After nearly ten years of honorable service with the U . S . Army , he enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 14 , 1910 at the Marine Barracks , Bremerton , Washington . He was appointed a corporal , March 14 , 1911 , and honorably discharged on June 13 , 1914 . He re - enlisted on June 17 , 1914 , and was appointed a Sergeant on August 24 , 1914 . During this second enlistment , he served on the from July 13 , 1914 until January 30 , 1915 ; on detached duty on the from January 30 , 1915 until February 6 , 1915 ; on the USS " Nebraska " again from February 6 , 1915 until October 22 , 1916 ; and at Norfolk , Virginia , from October 22 , 1916 until May 25 , 1917 . World War I action . Sergeant Janson sailed for France on the on June 14 , 1917 , and disembarked at St . Nazaire , France , June 27 , 1917 . Appointed a gunnery sergeant , a temporary warrant for the duration of the war , on July 1 , 1917 he served honorably with the 49th Company , 5th Regiment , in its various activities . Medal of Honor gallantry . On June 6 , 1918 , he was severely wounded in action . For his conspicuous service on that date , GySgt Janson was awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor . The French Medaille Militaire , which carries the Croix de Guerre with Palm , the Montenegrin Silver Medal , the Portuguese Cruz de Guerra , and the Italian Croce di Guerra were also awarded to him for the same act of bravery . In November 1918 , he returned to the United States and was admitted to the Naval Hospital , New York , for treatment of the wounds received in action on June 6 , 1918 . Post - WW I . At the expiration of his second enlistment , April 25 , 1919 , he was honorably discharged . He re - enlisted May 7 , 1919 , and served the full term of this enlistment as a recruiter at New York City . Sergent Major Janson was selected and served as the Marine Corps pallbearer for the burial of the Unknown Soldier on Armistice Day , 1921 . He was honorably discharged on May 6 , 1923 . His fourth - enlistment took place May 7 , 1923 , and he remained on recruiting duty until July 20 , 1926 , when he was transferred to Marine Barracks , Quantico , Virginia . On his return to duty at Quantico , he was reinstated to his wartime rank of gunnery sergeant and requested retirement the following month . He was advanced one grade to Sergeant Major on August 31 , 1926 , and placed on the retired list , September 30 , 1926 . Sergeant Major Janson returned to New York and during his last years lived on Long Island . He died after a brief illness , May 14 , 1930 , and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery , Brooklyn , New York . Medal of Honor citations . Gunnery Sergeant Janson was one of five Marines during World War I to be awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor . Two Medals of Honor may no longer be given for a single incident . Rank and organization : Gunnery Sergeant , U . S . Marine Corps , 49th Company . ( Served under name of Charles F . Hoffman ) Born : August 17 , 1878 , New York , N . Y . Accredited to : New York . ( Also received Army Medal of Honor . ) Citation : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau - Thierry , France , 6 June 1918 . Immediately after the company to which G / Sgt . Janson belonged , had reached its objective on Hill 142 , several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated . G / Sgt . Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy , armed with 5 light machineguns , crawling toward his group . Giving the alarm , he rushed the hostile detachment , bayoneted the 2 leaders , and forced the others to flee , abandoning their guns . His quick action , initiative and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machinegun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops .