William Robert Button William Robert Button ( December 3 , 1895 – April 15 , 1921 ) was a United States Marine Corps Corporal who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in killing Charlemagne Peralte on October 31 , – November 1 , 1919 . Second Lieutenant Herman H . Hanneken was also awarded the Medal of Honor on that date . Button later obtained the rank of Sergeant before dying at age 25 from malaria . Biography . Button was born December 3 , 1895 in St . Louis , Missouri and after joining the Marine Corps was sent to fight in Haiti . He was in command of a group of Gendarmerie near Grande Riviere , Republic of Haiti , on October 31 - November 1 , 1919 when they engaged a group of Haitians opposed to the U . S . occupation . By the end of fighting Charlemagne Peralte , alleged in Button ' s citation to be " the supreme bandit chief in the Republic of Haiti " , had been killed and about 1200 of his followers had been killed , captured or dispersed . For risking his life in battle he , along with Sergeant Herman H . Hanneken , were cited for bravery , and recommended for the United States militaries highest decoration for bravery , the Medal of Honor , for their actions . The medal was approved by the Secretary of the Navy on June 10 , 1920 , and presented by the Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps , John A . Lejeune , at a ceremony in Washington , D . C . , July 1 , 1920 . After the ceremony he took a short furlough to his hometown of St . Louis before returning to Haiti . He died of pernicious malaria April 15 , 1921 at the Department Hospital , Cap - Haïtien , Haiti , at the age of 25 . At the request of his father his remains were returned to the United States and he is buried at Valhalla Cemetery , Saint Louis , Missouri . His grave can be found in section 5S , lot 66 , grave 1 . The Marines he served with in the Gendarmerie d ' Haiti donated money to place a bronze memorial tablet on his grave , and stated that any additional funds would be used to place flowers on his grave each Memorial Day . Honors and awards . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to CORPORAL WILLIAM R . BUTTON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS For service as set forth in the following Citation : For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in actual conflict with the enemy near GRANDE RIVIERE Republic of Haiti , on the night of October 31 - November 1 , 1919 , resulting in the death of Charlemagne Peralte , the supreme bandit chief in the Republic of Haiti , and the killing and capture and dispersal of about twelve hundred ( 1200 ) of his outlaw followers . Corporal William R . Button not only distinguished himself by his excellent judgment and leadership , but unhesitatingly exposed himself to great personal danger , when the slightest error would have forfeited not only his life but the lives of the detachments of Gendarmerie under his command . The successful termination of his mission will undoubtedly prove of untold value to the Republic of Haiti . USNS Button . The United States Navy named a Roll - on / Roll - off container ship , the USNS SGT William R . Button ( T - AK 3012 ) in his honor .