THE HEROICE STORY OF JOHN H. YANCEY, A MARINE CORPS LEGEND.

A Marine Corps legend . . .

Born on April 27, 1918, in Plumerville, Arkansas, John H. Yancey quit college, joined the Marines after Pearl Harbor, and by November 1942 was a Marine Raider fighting on Guadalcanal.

On the night of November 30, 1942, while serving with Company F, Second Raider Battalion, Corporal Yancey and his squad surprised a Japanese artillery position of over 100 soldiers.

Although vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Yancey, determined to wipe out the enemy encampment, charged into the group. Blasting away at the Japanese and yelling for his squad to follow, the determined corporal became a one-man killing machine.

During the brutal close-in and often times hand-to-hand fighting, Yancey and his fellow Raiders "killed over fifty Japanese and drove the remainder into the bush.”

For his "swift and courageous action that won a complete victory over the enemy without the loss of a Marine,” Cpl. Yancey was awarded the Navy Cross.

More than two years later, after receiving a battlefield commission for his actions on Guadalcanal and fighting on Iwo Jima, Lt. Yancey returned to Arkansas, married, opened a liquor store, and was assigned to the Marine Corps Reserves Rifle Company in Little Rock.

When the Korean War broke out, he was again sent overseas. On the night of November 27-28, 1950, during the opening hours of the Battle of Chosin, Yancey, a platoon leader with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, was "defending strategic high ground north of Yudam-ni,” when an overwhelming Chinese force attacked.

During the brutal fighting, Yancey was hit three times, once from an exploding grenade that sent shrapnel into the roof of his mouth and twice from enemy bullets that tore into his nose and right cheek, causing his right eye to pop out.

In a 1985 interview, Yancey said, "I was in such bad shape . . . I had that slug through the roof of my mouth and one through the nose . . . I poked my eye back in the socket and I put a scarf under my chin like this, and tied my jaw.”

Despite his wounds, the seemingly indomitable Marine refused to be evacuated and "boldly made his way from one platoon to another in the face of intense enemy fire, shouting words of encouragement to his men, seeking aid for casualties, and directing the defense of the vital terrain.”

Miraculously, Yancey survived the ordeal and for his "inspiring leadership, outstanding courage and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds” was awarded his second Navy Cross.

(He was nominated for the Medal of Honor, but because his senior officers were killed during the battle, an official report of his actions was never sent to higher command. Efforts to have his Navy Cross upgraded to a MOH were all denied.)

Postscript:

In the mid-1960’s Yancey, still eager to serve his country, volunteered to serve in Vietnam. The Marine Corps, however, denied his request due to his wounds, particularly his lack of teeth. Angered by the decision, he said, "Hell, I wasn't planning on biting the sonsofb#@* to death.”

The most decorated Arkansas Marine in history died on May 16, 1986, at the age of 68. He left behind a wife of 36 years and five children.

A year before his death he told a friend, "I have had a lot of [health] trouble lately . . . I have taken so much codeine I ain't hungry at all. It comes in spells. Something you learn to live with, more or less."

Today we pay tribute to John Yancey, his family, and all those who served, sacrificed, and died during WWII and the Korean War. We will never forget you!

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