On June 8, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Hospital Apprentice First Class Fred Lester was serving as a Navy corpsman attached to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Marines, 6th Marine Division.

After a fierce assault on a heavily defended Japanese hill, Lester saw a wounded Marine lying exposed beyond the front lines.

He crawled toward him through intense machine-gun, rifle, and grenade fire.

Shot once. Then again.

Still, he kept moving.

Reaching the Marine, Lester dragged him toward cover under relentless fire. Though mortally wounded and unable to treat the casualty himself, he calmly directed others in providing lifesaving aid.

Knowing his own wounds were fatal, he refused treatment and continued guiding care for additional wounded Marines until he succumbed.

His courage saved a life that day.

For extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty, Hospital Apprentice First Class Fred Lester was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

🔔 Subscribe for more true stories of courage and sacrifice
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments
👍 Like if you value these stories
👥 Share to honor our military heroes