William G . Harrell William George Harrell ( June 16 , 1922 – August 9 , 1964 ) was a United States Marine who was awarded his nation ' s highest military honor – the Medal of Honor – for his heroic actions in the Battle of Iwo Jima . Early years . William Harrell was born in Rio Grande City , Texas on June 26 , 1922 and later moved to Mercedes , Texas . He attended high school in Mercedes , graduating in 1939 , and then went on to Texas A & M University for two years prior to his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps on July 3 , 1942 in Harlingen , Texas . Marine Corps service . Completing his recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego , California , he was temporarily in the 1st Guard Company at that base , prior to his transfer to Headquarters and Service Company , 2nd Battalion , Camp Elliott , San Diego , California , in September 1942 . He was promoted to private first class upon his arrival at Camp Elliott , and while there was later advanced to corporal . Following completion of the Basic Rocket Course , Cpl Harrell departed for overseas duty in February 1943 with Company A , 1st Battalion , 28th Marines , 5th Marine Division , as an armorer . He first served in Hawaii , then went on to Saipan then to Iwo Jima . Sgt Harrell earned the Medal of Honor during the Iwo Jima campaign for continuing to halt a Japanese advance toward his Command Post although suffering from the loss of both hands and several saber cuts on his legs . On March 3 , 1945 , Sgt Harrell and another man dug in for the night in a long narrow two - man foxhole on Iwo Jima , on a little ridge 20 yards forward of the depression where the company command post was established . Beyond the foxhole the ridge fell off into a ravine which was in Japanese territory . Because of their nearness to the enemy , the two men took turns standing one - hour watches throughout the night while the other slept . An attack by the Japanese was repulsed , but the other Marine ' s weapon jammed and he returned to the command post to obtain another . While he was gone , the enemy managed to get a grenade in the foxhole , which exploded , blowing off Sgt Harrell ' s left hand . The second Marine returned just as the Japanese were swarming up the foxhole and together he and Sgt Harrell drove them off . Thinking he was dying due to the severity of his wounds and saber cuts suffered in the last repulse , Sgt Harrell ordered his companion to retire to safety . His friend left , but only to get another rifle . During his absence , two Japanese charged the foxhole , setting off another grenade . As Sgt Harrell attempted to push it out of the hole it exploded , tearing off his right hand . He was evacuated and treated at various field hospitals prior to his arrival in the United States . He was a patient at the Bethesda Naval Hospital , Bethesda , Maryland , while awaiting the presentation of the Medal of Honor . He was presented the nation ' s highest military decoration by President Harry S . Truman at the White House on Friday , October 5 , 1945 . Sgt Harrell was discharged from the Marine Corps at his present rank in February 1946 because of disability resulting from his wounds . Decorations . In addition to the Medal of Honor , Sgt Harrell was awarded the Purple Heart ; Presidential Unit Citation ; Good Conduct Medal ; American Campaign Medal ; Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star ; and the World War II Victory Medal . Final days . After the war , Harrell worked for the Veteran ' s Administration . He specialized in helping other amputees . He married and had children . Sergeant Harrell died on August 9 , 1964 in San Antonio , Texas , and was laid to rest in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery , San Antonio . The tragic circumstances surrounding Harrell ' s death remain a mystery . On the evening of August 8 , 1964 , Harrell had been at a party with friends . Sometime after midnight on August 9 , in his own residence , Harrell shot and killed his friends , Edward and Geraldine Zumwalt , and then turned the gun on himself . The bodies were discovered the following morning by Harrell ' s family when they returned from an out - of - town trip . The motivation for the killings was never determined . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to SERGEANT WILLIAM G . HARRELL UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : / S / HARRY S . TRUMAN