US People--Fardy, John P., Corporal, USMC.

PEOPLE--UNITED STATES

Corporal John P. Fardy, USMC, (1922-1945)

John Peter Fardy was born on 8 August 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted from that same state in the U.S. Marine Corps in May 1943. Following recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San Diego California, he was promoted to Private First Class and remained in the area to attend the Japanese Language School at Camp Elliott. He was reassigned that summer to the base's Infantry Battalion and was trained as an automatic rifleman before joining the Twenty-Ninth Replacement Battalion. That October, Fardy departed for combat duty in the Pacific with the Twenty-Seventh Replacement Battalion then transferred to Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division. While serving with Company C, he participated in the Battle of Cape Gloucester, New Britain in December 1943 and in the Battle of Peleliu in the fall of 1944. In December, Fardy was promoted to Corporal.

In April 1945, Fardy was a Squad Leader with Company C in action against Japanese forces on Okinawa, Japan. On 7 May, his squad came under intense and extremely heavy small-arms fire. Taking cover in a drainage ditch, an enemy grenade fell in their midst. Fardy instantly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the blast and saving his fellow comrades. He was taken to a field hospital, but due to the severity of his wounds, he died later that day. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. John P. Fardy is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Worth, Illinois.

This page features the only image we have concerning John P. Fardy.

Photo #: NH 105930

Corporal John P. Fardy, USMC

Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 182.
John P. Fardy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while serving as a Squad Leader with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division during an advance against Japanese forces on Okinawa, Japan, 7 May 1945.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 65KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Medal of Honor citation of Corporal John Peter Fardy, USMC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 182):

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Squad Leader, serving with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Islands, 7 May 1945. When his squad was suddenly assailed by extremely heavy small-arms fire from the front during a determined advance against strongly fortified, fiercely defended Japanese positions, Corporal Fardy temporarily deployed his men along a near-by drainage ditch. Shortly thereafter, an enemy grenade fell among the Marines in the ditch. Instantly throwing himself upon the deadly missile, Corporal Fardy absorbed the exploding blast in his own body, thereby protecting his comrades from certain and perhaps fatal injuries. Concerned solely for the welfare of his men, he willingly relinquished his own hope of survival that his fellow Marines might live to carry on the fight against a fanatic enemy. A stout-hearted leader and indomitable fighter, Corporal Fardy, by his prompt decision and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death, had rendered valiant service, and his conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

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