Troy A. McGill
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II:
Sergeant Troy A. McGill (15 July 1914 - 4 March 1944) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the Admiralty Islands Campaign in World War II.
Troy A. McGill was born on 15 July 1914 in Knoxville, TN. He joined the Army from Ada, OK. On 4 March 1944, he was serving as a Sergeant in Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. During an enemy attack that day on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, he held his ground against the numerically superior force. After ordering the only other unwounded man in his squad to retreat, he continued to hold his position alone and eventually engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor:
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Place and date: Los Negros Islands, Admiralty Group, 4 March 1944.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Los Negros Island, Admiralty Group, on 4 March 1944. In the early morning hours Sgt. McGill, with a squad of 8 men, occupied a revetment which bore the brunt of a furious attack by approximately 200 drink-crazed enemy troops. Although covered by crossfire from machineguns on the right and left flank he could receive no support from the remainder of our troops stationed at his rear. All members of the squad were killed or wounded except Sgt. McGill and another man, whom he ordered to return to the next revetment. Courageously resolved to hold his position at all cost, he fired his weapon until it ceased to function. Then, with the enemy only 5 yards away, he charged from his foxhole in the face of certain death and clubbed the enemy with his rifle in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. At dawn, 105 enemy dead were found around his position. Sgt. McGill's intrepid stand was an inspiration to his comrades and a decisive factor in the defeat of a fanatical enemy.
Honors:
A section of Interstate 40 in Knoxville, TN, is named "Troy A. McGill Memorial Highway."
Death and Burial:
Sergeant Troy A. McGill was killed in action on 4 March 1944. He is buried at Knoxville National Cemetery in his birth city of Knoxville, TN, in Section B, Grave 6294.
Source: Military Hall of Honor