Everything about Ernest A Janson totally explained
Sergeant Major
Ernest August Janson (1878-1930) was a
United States Marine who was highly decorated for his heroic actions in
World War I, receiving both the Army and Navy
Medal of Honor and the French
Medaille Militaire, as well as decorations from Montenegro, Portugal, and Italy. During World War I he served under the name
Charles F. Hoffman.
Ernest August Janson was born on
17 August 1878, in New York, New York. After nearly ten years of honorable service with the
U.S. Army, he enlisted in the
Marine Corps on
14 June 1910 at the Marine Barracks,
Bremerton, Washington. He was appointed a corporal,
14 March 1911, and honorably discharged on
13 June 1914.
He re-enlisted on
17 June 1914, and was appointed a
Sergeant on
24 August 1914. During this second enlistment, he served on the
USS Nebraska from
13 July 1914 until
30 January 1915; on detached duty on the
USS Montana from
30 January 1915 until
6 February 1915; on the USS
Nebraska again from
6 February 1915 until
22 October 1916; and at
Norfolk, Virginia, from
22 October 1916 until
25 May 1917.
World War I action
Sergeant Janson sailed for France on the
USS DeKalb on
14 June 1917, and disembarked at
St. Nazaire, France,
27 June 1917. Appointed a
gunnery sergeant, a temporary warrant for the duration of the war, on
1 July 1917 he served honorably with the 49th Company, 5th Regiment, in its various activities.
Medal of Honor gallantry
On
6 June 1918, was severely wounded in action. For his conspicuous service on that date, GySgt Janson was awarded the both the Army and Navy
Medals of Honor. The French
Medaille Militaire, which carries the
Croix de Guerre with Palm, the
Montenegrin Silver Medal, the Portuguese Cruz de Guerra, and the Italian Croce di Guerra were also awarded to him for the same act of bravery.
In November 1918, he returned to the United States and was admitted to the Naval Hospital, New York, for treatment of the wounds received in action on 6 June 1918.
Post-WW I
At the expiration of his second enlistment, 25 April 1919, he was honorably discharged. He re-enlisted 7 May 1919, and served the full term of this enlistment as a recruiter at New York City. He was honorably discharged on 6 May 1923.
His fourth-enlistment took place 7 May 1923, and he remained on recruiting duty until 20 July 1926, when he was transferred to
Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. On his return to duty at Quantico, he was reinstated to his wartime rank of gunnery sergeant and requested retirement the following month. He was advanced one grade to
sergeant major on 31 August 1926, and placed on the retired list, 30 September 1926.
Sergeant Major Janson returned to New York and during his last years lived on Long Island. He died after a brief illness, 14 May 1930, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.
Medal of Honor citations
Gunnery Sergeant Janson was one of five Marines during World War I to be awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor. Two Medals of Honor may no longer be given for a single incident.
Navy Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 49th Company. (Served under name of Charles F. Hoffman) Born: 17 August 1878, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.)
Citation:
» For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Immediately after the company to which G/Sgt. Janson belonged, had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. G/Sgt. Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with 5 light machineguns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the 2 leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machinegun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
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