James Irsley Poynter (1916 - 1950)

Born 1 Dec 1916 in Saybrook, McLean, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Died 4 Nov 1950 at age 33 in Sudong, Hamgyong-namdo, North Korea

James Poynter was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Biography

SGT James Poynter served in the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War
Service started: 19 Jul 1950
Unit(s): 7th Marine Regiment
Service ended: 4 Nov 1950

James Irsley Poynter was born 1 December 1916 in Bloomington, Illinois. He enlisted in the regular Marine Corps in February 1942. He fought in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, participating in the Guadalcanal, Southern Solomons, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa campaigns. Poynter was discharged in February 1946.

At the beginning of the Korean War, he re-enlisted in the Marine Corps, joining the 13th Infantry Battalion, Marine Corps Reserve in Los Angeles on July 19, 1950. He arrived in Korea in time to aid in the recapture of Seoul after the Inchon landing. Sgt Poynter was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for “outstanding leadership, ability and courageous aggressiveness against the enemy” as a squad leader in from September 24, to October 4, 1950.

Sergeant Poynter was a squad leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On November 4, 1950, he was leading his squad in defending Hill 532, south of Sudong, North Korea. As the enemy was about to overrun his position, he left his position and engaged in hand to hand combat. He attacked three enemy machine gun emplacements destroying two and disabling the third before he fell mortally wounded. For his leadership and valor, Sergeant Poynter was awarded the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.^[1]

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

SERGEANT JAMES I. POYNTER UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Squad Leader in a Rifle Platoon of Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces during the defense of Hill 532, south of Sudong, Korea, on 4 November 1950. When a vastly outnumbering, well-concealed hostile force launched a sudden, vicious counterattack against his platoon's hasty defensive position, Sergeant Poynter displayed superb skill and courage in leading his squad and directing its fire against the onrushing enemy. With his ranks critically depleted by casualties and he himself critically wounded as the onslaught gained momentum and the hostile force surrounded his position, he seized his bayonet and engaged in bitter hand-to-hand combat as the break-through continued. Observing three machine guns closing in at a distance of twelve-five yards, he dashed from his position and, grasping hand grenades from fallen Marines as he ran, charged the emplacements in rapid succession, killing the crews of two and putting the other out of action before he fell, mortally wounded. By his self-sacrificing and valiant conduct, Sergeant Poynter inspired the remaining members of his squad to heroic endeavor in bearing down upon and repelling the disorganized enemy, thereby enabling the platoon to move out of the trap to a more favorable tactical position. His indomitable fighting spirit, fortitude and great personal valor maintained in the face of overwhelming odds sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country./S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN ^[2]

Burial

He is buried in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America,^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings [database on-line. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.]
2. ↑ James I. Poynter-Wikipedia
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #9730

• "United States Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXCS-ZTV : 12 December 2014), James Irsley Poynter, 04 Nov 1950; citing Korea, service number 369715, reference 3528, Records of Military Personnel Who Died as a Result of Hostilities During the Korean War, compiled ca 1977-11/1979, documenting the period 01/01/1950-02/07/1957, NARA NAID 571686, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• Military Times

• American Battle Monuments Commission

• Togetherweserved.com