Ernest August Janson (1879 - 1930)

Born 17 Aug 1879 in New York City, New York, United States

Died 14 May 1930 at age 50 in Long Island, New York, United States

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Biography

Ernest Janson was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Ernest Janson is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army & Marine Corps c1900-1926
Served in Nicaraguan Campaign, WWI.

Ernest was born in 1879. He passed away in 1930. During World War I he served under the name Charles F. Hoffman. Ernest August Janson was born on August 17, 1878, in New York City. After nearly ten years of honorable service with the U.S. Army, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 14, 1910, at the Marine Barracks, Bremerton, Washington. He was appointed a corporal, March 14, 1911, and took part in the Nicaraguan Campaign, and was honorably discharged on June 13, 1914.

He re-enlisted on June 17, 1914, and was appointed a sergeant on August 24, 1914. During this second enlistment, he served on the USS Nebraska from July 13, 1914, until January 30, 1915; on detached duty on the USS Montana from January 30, 1915, until February 6, 1915; on the USS Nebraska again from February 6, 1915, until October 22, 1916; and at Norfolk, Virginia, from October 22, 1916. until May 25, 1917.^[1]

At the expiration of his second enlistment, April 25, 1919, he was honorably discharged. He re-enlisted May 7, 1919, and served the full term of this enlistment as a recruiter at New York City.

Sergeant Major Janson was selected and served as the Marine Corps pallbearer for the burial of the Unknown Soldier on Armistice Day, 1921. He was honorably discharged on May 6, 1923.^[2]

His fourth-enlistment took place May 7, 1923, and he remained on recruiting duty until July 20, 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 August 31, 1926, and placed on the retired list, September 30, 1926.

Sergeant Major Janson returned to New York and during his last years lived on Long Island. He died after a brief illness, May 14, 1930, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. ^[3]

Medal of Honor

• RANK: GUNNERY SERGEANT (HIGHEST RANK: SERGEANT MAJOR)
• CONFLICT/ERA: WORLD WAR I
• UNIT/COMMAND: 49TH COMPANY, 5TH REGIMENT, 2D DIVISION
• MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. MARINE CORPS
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: JUNE 6, 1918
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NEAR CHATEAU-THIERRY, FRANCE

[Received both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor for the same deed.]

Army Medal of Honor: Immediately after the company to which he belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. GSgt. Hoffman was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two 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 machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops. Navy Medal of Honor: 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 GSgt. Janson belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. GSgt. Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two 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 machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.^[4]

Silver Star citation

Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 49th Company, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Born: August 17, 1878, New York, N.Y. Action Dates: June 6 – July 10, 1918. General Orders: Citation Orders, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces.

silver star ribbon

Citation:

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D. 1918), Gunnery Sergeant Charles F. Hoffman, United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND DIVISION, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Gunnery Sergeant Hoffman distinguished himself while serving with the 49th Company, Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces at Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June to 10 July 1918.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Brooklyn Times-Union. May 16, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved April 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com
2. ↑ EIGHT PALLBEARERS NAMED: They Are Non-Commissioned Officers Decorated for Bravery in World War Actions". The New York Times. October 5, 1921. p. 16.
3. ↑ EIGHT PALLBEARERS NAMED: They Are Non-Commissioned Officers Decorated for Bravery in World War Actions". The New York Times. October 5, 1921. p. 16.
4. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society
5. ↑ Marine Corps University, https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Information-for-Units/Medal-of-Honor-Recipients-By-Unit/GySgt-Ernest-August-Janson/

• Navy Medal of Honor Citation for Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson=1921 (PDF). United States Marine Corps University History Division Holdings. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
• Sergeant Major Ernest A. Janson Web Page. United States Marine Corps University History Division. Retrieved October 14, 2017.