Ben Salomon

Ben Salomon (Class of 1932, Received Award in 2012)

Trained as a dentist, Ben Salomon was drafted into the United States Army in 1940 and proved his worth as an excellent marksman and instructor in infantry tactics and as a dentist.

On July 7, 1944, Captain Salomon was serving in the 27th infantry division in Saipan in the Marianas Islands. He volunteered for the role of surgeon after the previous one was killed. His battalion came under ferocious attack by thousands of Japanese soldiers who soon advanced on Captain Salomon’s aid station. To defend the men in his care, he killed several enemy soldiers who had entered the aid station. Ordering his comrades to evacuate the tent, he held off the enemy, singlehandedly killing 98 enemy soldiers and saving many American lives but sacrificing his own.

After several attempts were made to honor Salomon for his bravery and courage, he belatedly received the honor due him when he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush in 2002.