I doubt there's anyone out there who hasn't heard, or sung for that matter, the Beatles' "Birthday" song. It's catchy and if you're a GenXer like me, you probably know it from "Sixteen Candles" when "Farmer Ted" sings it to Andy in the auto shop during the highschool dance.
In my book, your birthday is the one day of the year you can do what YOU want; if you're lucky, someone throws you a party, someone sends you a card or a gift in honor of the day you were born. However, sometimes they are a day of sacrifice. Such is the case of Corporal John Henry Pruitt.
John Pruitt was born 4 October 1896 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Not yet 19, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on 3 May 1917, just weeks after the United States declared war on Germany. Pruitt went through recruit training at Mare Island, California, before being assigned to the 78th Company, 6th Regiment in July 1917, which was forming at Quantico.
Private Pruitt fought in the initial battle of Belleau Wood. It wasn't a bullet that took him out of action, but gas. He was gassed on 14 June and was sent back to the hospital to recuperate. Chemical warfare in WWI was a nasty business and killed many; Pruitt was lucky. He survived.
Due to the gas, Pruitt missed the battle of Soissons (4 days of combat); a bloody battle that was far more deadly than Belleau Wood (21 days of combat). Pruitt returned to the 78th Company on the 4th of August, and just 11 days later he was promoted to Corporal.
September came and so did the battle of St. Mihiel. Another bloody battle for the Corps and its Marines. Pruitt came through without wounds or injuries. However, Corporal Pruitt distinguished himself by gallantry in action on15
September 1918, in aiding in the capture of an enemy machine gun, and was awarded the Silver Star citation (today's Silver Star medal) for his actions.
From Owen and Swift--they tell it better: On 3 October 1918, Cpl Pruitt along with the rest of the the 78th Company "were fired on from two machine gun positions. Corporal John H. Pruitt led three volunteers forward. Pruitt plunged right into one position, shooting the gunner between the eyes with his Springfield. He killed the gunner of the second weapon with another shot. Corporal Pruitt and his Marines discovered a bunker nearby with a large group of Germans now trapped below ground. More than 40 Germans, including three officers, surrendered to Corporal Pruitt and his team." For this action, Cpl Pruitt was later awarded our nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor.
However, in actions still vague and not well documented, Cpl Pruitt earned two additional Silver Star citations for this battle. The 6th Regiment suffered from small-arms fire and direct artillery fire from the north. It was this artillery fire that wounded Cpl Pruitt on 3 October 1918.
Pruitt was removed from the battlefield and died the next day from his wounds, 4 October 1918. Cpl Pruitt made the ultimate sacrifice on the day of his birth, he was just 22 years old.
Initially buried in the Argonne American Cemetery, Cpl Pruitt was returned to the United States and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Cpl Pruitt was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and the Italian Cross of Military Honor in addition to his three Silver Star citations, and Army (and additionally the Navy) Medal of Honor. After the war, the Navy named a destroyer (DD-347) in his honor as well.
World War II veterans were a great generation, but I would argue not the only greatest generation. Any generation that is willing to put on the uniform of our nation and sacrifice themselves on the alter of freedom is the greatest.
Corporal Pruitt, the sacrifices you made are remembered, on this day--the occasion of your birth 123 years ago and the occasion of your death 102 years ago.
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