John H. Pruitt
{{Short description|US Marine and Medal of Honor recipient (1896–1918)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox military person
|width_style = person
|name= John H. Pruitt
|image = Pruitt JH USMC.jpg
|birth_name = John Henry Pruitt
|birth_date= {{birth date|1896|10|04|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1918|10|04|1896|10|04|mf=y}}
|death_place = Sommepy-Tahure, France
|placeofburial = {{nowr|Arlington National Cemetery}}
|allegiance = United States of America
|branch_label = Branch
|branch = United States Marine Corps
|serviceyears_label = Years of service
|serviceyears = 1917–1918
|rank = Corporal
|unit = 6th Marine Regiment
|battles_label = Conflict
|battles = {{clist|title={{nobold|World War I}}
|{{spaces|3}}Belleau Wood
|{{spaces|3}}Château-Thierry
|{{spaces|3}}Blanc Mont Ridge{{KIA}}
}}
|awards = {{ubl|Medal of Honor (2)|Silver Star (3)|Purple Heart (2)}}
}}
John Henry Pruitt (October 4, 1896 – October 4, 1918) was a United States Marine during World War I and is one of only 19 people who have received two Medals of Honor.
Biography
John Henry Pruitt was born on October 4, 1896, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He entered military service from Phoenix, Arizona, in May 1917.
As a corporal in the Marine Corps, Pruitt attacked and captured two enemy machine guns, and later captured forty of the enemy. The U.S. Army and later the U.S. Navy awarded him the Medal of Honor for his bravery on October 3, 1918, at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge, France. The next day, his 22nd birthday, he was killed by shell-fire.
His remains were returned to the United States and buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgZwcnVpdHQSBGpvaG4aAUg-/ |title=Burial Detail: Pruitt, John H. (Section 18, Grave 2453) Birth Date: 10/04/1896; Death Date: 10/04/1918; Interment Date: 10/13/1921 |work= ANC Explorer|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery |id=(Official website)}}
Military awards
= Medal of Honor =
== Army citation ==
{{blockquote|Pruitt single-handedly attacked two machineguns, capturing them and killing two of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant Marine was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he was sniping at the enemy.{{Cite web |access-date=October 22, 2017|url = http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=1929|title = Army Medal of Honor Citation for John Henry Pruitt|publisher= Military Times Hall of Valor at militarytimes.com|date =}}}}
== Navy citation ==
{{blockquote|For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, October 3, 1918. Corporal Pruitt single-handed attacked two machine-guns, capturing them and killing two of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shell-fire while he was sniping the enemy.{{Cite web|access-date = October 22, 2017|url = https://www.usmcu.edu/sites/default/files/HD_Who/MHC/Pruitt%2c%20J.H.pdf|title = Navy Medal of Honor Citation for Corporal John H. Pruitt|publisher = United States Marine Corps University History Division Holdings|date = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170208195955/https://www.usmcu.edu/sites/default/files/HD_Who/MHC/Pruitt%2c%20J.H.pdf|archive-date = February 8, 2017|url-status = dead}}}}
= Namesake =
The United States Navy named a destroyer {{USS|Pruitt|DD-347|6}} in his honor and he was listed in Pershing's 100. Pruitt Hall on Marine Corps Base Quantico is named for him.
= Decorations =
Pruitt's military decorations and awards include:
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Medaille militaire ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=CroixdeGuerreFR-BronzePalm.png|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=palm|ribbon=Croce di guerra al merito BAR.svg|width=106}} |
| class=wikitable style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
!1st row |colspan="5"|Medal of Honor |colspan="5"|Medal of Honor |
| 2nd row
|colspan="3"|Silver Star |colspan="3"|Purple Heart |colspan="3"|World War I Victory Medal |
|---|
| valign=top
!3nd row |colspan="3"|Médaille militaire |colspan="3"|Croix de guerre 1914–1918 |colspan="3"|Croce al Merito di Guerra |
See also
References
= Footnotes =
{{reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{DANFS}}
- {{Cite web
|access-date=November 5, 2007
|url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Pruitt_JH.htm
|title = Corporal John Henry Pruitt, Medal of Honor recipient
|work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
|publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
|date = September 18, 2003
}}
- {{Cite web
|access-date=November 5, 2007
|url = http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4006a81d9?OpenDocument
|title = Corporal John Henry Pruitt, Medal of Honor recipient
|work = Navy Medal of Honor citation
|publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
|date = March 5, 2007
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070305232836/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4006a81d9?OpenDocument |archive-date = March 5, 2007
}}
- {{Cite web
|url = https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/MCO%201020.34H%20v2.pdf?ver=2018-06-26-094038-137
|title = United States Marine Corps Uniform Regulations
|work = Bronze "V" Device
|publisher = United States Marine Corps
|date = May 1, 2018}}
External links
- {{Hall of Valor|1929|accessdate=March 14, 2010}}
- {{cite web|url = http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jhpruitt.htm|title = John Henry Pruit|publisher=at ArlingtonCemetery.net|id=(Unofficial website)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pruitt, John H.}}
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I
Category:American military personnel killed in World War I
Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Category:Double Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Category:People from Fayetteville, Arkansas
Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
Category:United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officers