On February 26–27, 1945, during the brutal Battle of Iwo Jima, Marine Private Wilson Watson of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division faced relentless Japanese fire from fortified positions hidden among rocky ridges.

When his squad was pinned down, Watson charged a pillbox alone, firing directly into its opening before destroying it with a grenade and eliminating the retreating enemy behind it.

Later, under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire, he climbed a steep hill and attacked from the crest, standing fully exposed while pouring fire into enemy entrenchments.

For fifteen savage minutes, he held the position.

By the time his ammunition was exhausted and reinforcements reached him, Watson had killed 60 enemy soldiers, breaking the resistance and allowing his platoon to advance.

For extraordinary heroism on Iwo Jima, Private Wilson Watson was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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