Grant F . Timmerman Grant Frederick Timmerman ( February 19 , 1919 – July 8 , 1944 ) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War II . Early years . Grant Timmerman was born in Americus , Kansas on February 19 , 1919 . Educated in the public schools of Emporia , Kansas , he graduated from Emporia High School in 1936 . He played the saxophone in the high school band for two years , enjoyed hunting small game , and read , wrote , and spoke French and Russian . He attended Kansas State Teacher ' s College in Emporia for one year , where he took a pre - engineering course . In the summer of 1937 , he went to California and worked as an electric welder at San Mateo , California . Military service . He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in San Francisco on October 28 , 1937 and went through United States Marine Corps Recruit Training at San Diego . His first assignment was at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton , Washington . After a few weeks duty there , Pvt Timmerman went to Mare Island Naval Shipyard , California , where he boarded the old China transport , . China . He crossed the 180th meridian on April 10 , 1938 , was duly initiated into the Imperial Domain of the Golden Dragon and arrived in Wusong , China , on the May 5 , 1938 . Assigned to the Motor Transport Company of the 4th Marines , Pvt Timmerman served as a truck driver and as a motorcycle dispatch rider . Once in Shanghai , he and another Marine observed a white woman surrounded by a crowd of menacing Chinese . Playing the part of " Marines to the rescue , " he and his buddy dispersed the angry crowd and stood by until a policeman was summoned . The lady turned out to be the wife of a U . S . Navy commander . A Letter of Commendation and appreciation from the commander were added to the young Marine ' s record book . It was July 1940 before Pvt Timmerman was promoted to private first class . When the usual 18 - month tour of duty was completed , PFC Timmerman requested that his tour be extended . His request was granted and it was thirty - three months in all before he set foot on the California shore again . Returning to Mare Island in April 1941 , he was given duty at the Naval Prison there and stayed at that post until his discharge at the completion of his four - year enlistment on October 27 , 1941 . He went back to electric welding and got a job at the ship yard of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in San Francisco , welding electrical fixtures and armor plates on destroyers . After five weeks of civilian life , the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and in February 1942 , he reenlisted and was reappointed to his old rank of private first class . World War II . Since he had only been out of the Marine Corps for four months , the 23 - year - old China Marine did not have to repeat basic training , but was immediately sent to the Transport Company at the Marine Corps Base at San Diego . Five weeks later he went to San Francisco as a clerk in the office of the Commanding General of the Department of the Pacific , where he stayed two months . Next assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion of the 2nd Marine Division , he was promoted to corporal in July , he was advanced to sergeant in October , and in November was once more on his way overseas . His battalion went to Wellington , New Zealand , and when he crossed the equator , Sgt Timmerman was initiated in the realm of King Neptunus Rex . Tarawa . After a period of intensive training in Wellington , the 2nd Division made their landing on Tarawa , Gilbert Islands on November 20 , 1943 . However , it was two days later that Sgt Timmerman came in with the tanks . In December , they went to Hawaii for a rest and more training , and in May 1944 left for another combat mission — the last for Timmerman . Saipan — Medal of Honor action . He landed on Saipan on D - Day , June 15 , 1944 , and on June 28 , sustained a slight shrapnel wound in the right forearm . A few days later — on July 8 , — Sgt Timmerman ' s tank , of which he was tank commander , was advancing a few yards ahead of the infantry when the attack was held up by a series of Japanese pillbox es and trenches . The sergeant had been firing the tank ' s antiaircraft gun during the vigorous attack but when progress was halted , he prepared to fire the 75 mm gun . Exposing himself to the enemy , he stood up in the open turret of his tank to warn the infantry to hit the deck because of the muzzle blast of the 75 mm . A Japanese grenade came hurtling through the air aimed in the direction of the open turret . Sgt Timmerman fearlessly covered the opening with his own body to prevent the grenade from killing his crew and the grenade exploded on his chest , killing him instantly . Although two members of the crew received slight wounds from the grenade , none were killed , all the larger fragments being taken by Sgt Timmerman . For that his country bestowed its highest honor upon him - the Medal of Honor . The Medal and also a Bronze Star earned earlier in the Saipan campaign , were presented to his parents on July 8 , 1945 , the first anniversary of his death , in their home by Col Norman E . True of the Marine Barracks in Great Lakes , Illinois . This quiet informal presentation was made at the request of the Marine ' s mother . Initially buried in the 2nd Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan , Marianas Island , Sgt Timmerman was later reinterred in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu , Hawaii . Awards and honor . Timmerman ' s awards include : Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to SERGEANT GRANT F . TIMMERMAN UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 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 as Tank Commander serving with the Second Battalion , Sixth Marines , Second Marine Division , during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan , Marianas Islands , on 8 July 1944 . Advancing with his tank a few yards ahead of the infantry in support of a vigorous attack on hostile positions , Sergeant Timmerman maintained steady fire from his antiaircraft sky mount machine gun until progress was impeded by a series of enemy trenches and pillboxes . Observing a target of opportunity , he immediately ordered the tank stopped and , mindful of the danger from the muzzle blast as he prepared to open fire with the 75 - mm . , fearlessly stood up in the exposed turret and ordered the infantry to hit the deck . Quick to act as a grenade , hurled by the Japanese , was about to drop into the open turret hatch , Sergeant Timmerman unhesitatingly blocked the opening with his body , holding the grenade against his chest and taking the brunt of the explosion . His exceptional valor and loyalty in saving his men at the cost of his own life reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Timmerman and the United States Naval Service . He gallantly gave his live in the service of country . / S / HARRY S . TRUMAN