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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Benton Turner (June 27, 1899 – June 29, 1963) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II.
George B. Turner | |
---|---|
Born | Longview, Texas, US | June 27, 1899
Died | June 29, 1963 64) Encino, California, US | (aged
Place of burial | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service | United States Marine Corps United States Army |
Years of service | 1918 (USMC), 1942 - 1945 (US Army) |
Rank | Private First Class |
Unit | 499th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 14th Armored Division |
Battles / wars | World War II |
Awards | Medal of Honor |
Turner was educated at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. In 1918, he left Wentworth at 19 years old to fight in the First World War in the U.S. Marine Corps, but the war ended before he was able to go overseas to join in the fighting. With the mass drawdown in force by the U.S. military at the war's end, Turner was soon discharged. During the 1920s he moved to California, where he worked as a legal secretary for a law office.
When the U.S. entered the Second World War, Turner volunteered once again to defend his country. He joined the Army from Los Angeles in October 1942,[1] and was assigned to C Battery of the 499th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 14th Armored Division. For his actions on January 3, 1945, he received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman on August 23, 1945. Turner was 46 years old at the time he received the award.
Turner is the sole second former student of Wentworth Military Academy and College to receive the Medal of Honor, and the sole recipient of the medal for the 14th Armored Division.
Turner left the U.S. Army after World War II ended. He returned to California and lived out the rest of his life there, passing away in 1963. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, at Section 41, Site 589.
His MOH citation read:
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in awarding the MEDAL of HONOR to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS GEORGE B. TURNER, BTRY. C, 499th ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BN. UNITED STATES ARMY for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
Turner was the only recipient of the Medal of Honor from the 14th Armored Division during World War II. President Harry S. Truman remarked while presenting Turner the Medal of Honor: "I would rather have that medal than be president of the United States."[citation needed]
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