McCard, Robert H.
Robert Howard McCard was born on 25 November 1918 in Syracuse, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from that state in December 1939. Upon completion of training, he reported for sea duty on board USS Tuscaloosa and was promoted in July 1940 to Private First Class. In May 1941, he was temporarily promoted to Sergeant for recruiting duty at Centralia, Illinois. That December, as the U.S. entered World War II, McCard reverted to Private First Class and was assigned to Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was later transferred to the Training Center at the Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. In January 1943, McCard was promoted to Corporal. In April, he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the Fourth Tank Battalion, Fourth Marine Division, then based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In January 1944, McCard left for duty in the Pacific and participated in the invasion of Kwajalein, in the Marshall Islands. Promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in May, on 16 June 1944, during the battle of Saipan, Marianas Islands, he served as Platoon Sergeant with Company A, Fourth Tank Battalion, Fourth Marine Division. When his tank was disabled by enemy 77-mm. gun fire, McCard covered the evacuation of his crew with grenades and machine gun fire, sacrificing his life to save his men. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Robert H. McCard is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Honolulu, Hawaii.
USS Robert H. McCard (DD-822), 1946-1980, was named in honor of Gunnery Sergeant Robert H. McCard.
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