Army Employees Sgt. Gerald L. Endl spent greater than two years serving within the South Pacific earlier than he misplaced his life, however he did so with honor whereas saving a number of of his platoon-mates. For making the final word sacrifice in order that others might stay, Endl earned the Medal of Honor.
Endl was born Aug. 20, 1915, in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. His mother and father had been Ferdinand and Ellen Endl, and he had two older sisters, Isabel and Mildred.
Based on the 1930 census, Endl labored for a messenger for Western Union whereas he attended Fort Atkinson Excessive College. After graduating in 1933, he served within the Wisconsin Nationwide Guard for a short while whereas working on the James Manufacturing Firm as a machinist for poultry gear.
On Jan. 1, 1941, Endl married his spouse, Anna Marie, then moved about half an hour south to Janesville, Wisconsin. About three months later, he was drafted into the Army. Endl educated in Louisiana and was finally positioned with the 128th Infantry Regiment, thirty second Infantry Division.
The thirty second was slated to deploy to England, however because the battle shifted to the South Pacific, so did their plans. The division was as a substitute rerouted to Australia and New Guinea in April 1942.
In December 1942, Endl was wounded within the shoulder and knee throughout battle. He was hospitalized in Australia for a number of months earlier than returning to lively responsibility in Might 1943. Beforehand, he obtained the Purple Coronary heart for his actions and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. A number of months later, he was promoted to employees sergeant.
Endl managed to outlive greater than two years of preventing abroad; sadly, he by no means made it house.
On July 11, 1944, the 28-year-old’s platoon was collaborating in Operation Cartwheel, which aimed to neutralize a serious Japanese base at Rabaul. Based on a Conflict Division launch, Endl and his platoon had been on the transfer and hadn’t eaten or rested in additional than 30 hours.
Endl was on the entrance of the corporate’s lead platoon on a jungle path close to Anamo, New Guinea, once they bumped into enemy troops. The Japanese shortly unleashed rifle, machine gun and grenade fireplace. Endl’s platoon chief was injured, so Endl shortly took over command. He had his platoon get right into a firing line at a fork within the path towards which the enemy assault was directed.
The dense jungle terrain made it onerous for them to see and transfer simply, so Endl tried to make his approach additional down the path to a grass clearing. However as he did so, he detected the enemy — which had at the least six gentle and two heavy machine weapons — attempting to shut in on each flanks.
A second platoon was despatched to maneuver up on Endl’s platoon’s left flank to assist, however the enemy closed in on them shortly, threatening to isolate and annihilate each models. Twelve members of Endl’s unit had been wounded, whereas seven others had been minimize off by the enemy’s advance.
Endl knew that if his unit was pressured again additional, these stranded males would probably be captured or killed by the Japanese. So, he determined to attempt to rescue them, although he knew it was probably a demise sentence. Endl pushed on alone by means of heavy fireplace, participating Japanese troopers in a close-range firefight for a great 10 minutes. His effort held off the enemy lengthy sufficient for his platoon-mates to crawl ahead undercover, seize the trapped and wounded males and get them to relative security.
Nevertheless, 4 wounded males had been nonetheless left on the path in enemy territory, and Endl refused to go away them there. One after the other, he introduced them again to security. It was whereas he was carrying the final man in his arms that he was struck by a heavy burst of fireplace and killed.
Due to Endl’s efforts, all however one man was evacuated, and each platoons efficiently acquired away with their wounded in tow.
Endl’s comrades later remembered his bravery.
“He knew that to try to maneuver forward into the face of the enemy advance was virtually sure demise,” stated Army Employees Sgt. Edward R. Lane, Endl’s platoon-mate who was later killed in motion. “But, in his cool and decided method, he stated, ‘I’ve acquired to get these males out.’ And he went out alone to get them.”
One other platoon-mate, Pfc. Andrew W. Danielinko, known as Endl “probably the most calm and environment friendly man I ever noticed.”
On March 27, 1945, Endl’s widow was given the Medal of Honor on his behalf. It was offered to her of their hometown by Army Col. W. Lutz Krigbaum, the commanding officer of Camp (now Fort) McCoy, about two hours northwest of Janesville.
Endl was initially buried in New Guinea, however his stays had been repatriated in July 1948 and interred in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in his hometown. His medal was finally donated to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
Streets on quite a few navy bases have been named in Endl’s honor.
This text is a part of a weekly collection known as “Medal of Honor Monday,” by which we spotlight one of many greater than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients who’ve earned the U.S. navy’s highest medal for valor.
