Elbert L. Kinser
| Elbert Luther Kinser | |
|---|---|
 
Elbert L. Kinser, Medal of Honor recipient
|
|
| Born |
October 21, 1922 Greeneville, Tennessee |
| Died | May 4, 1945 (aged 22) KIA on Okinawa |
| Place of burial | initially the 1st Marine Division Cemetery on Okinawa later Solomon Lutheran Cemetery Greeneville, Tennessee |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942-1945 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines |
| Battles/wars |
World War II *Battle of Okinawa |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Sergeant Elbert Luther Kinser (October 21, 1922 - May 4, 1945) was a United States Marine who sacrificed his life at the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. He threw himself on a grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body and protecting his men, for which received the Medal of Honor. It was presented to his parents on July 4, 1946 in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Elbert Kinser was born in Greeneville, Tennessee on October 21, 1922. He worked on his father's farm prior to joining the Marine Corps.
Kinser enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in December 1942 and received his recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.
He sailed from the United States in March 1943, and joined the 7th Replacement Battalion in Pago Pago, Tutuila, American Samoa. Later, that battalion joined the 1st Marine Division in Melbourne, Australia, and Sgt Kinser was assigned to Company I, 1st Marines.
Action with the 1st Marines followed at Cape Gloucester, New Britain in Operation Cartwheel, and later at Battle of Peleliu in Peleliu, Palau Islands.
On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, Sgt Kinser landed with his unit on the Japanese island Okinawa. There Sergeant Kinser acting as a leader of a rifle platoon, serving with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, and was subsequently killed in action on May 4, 1945. During a hand grenade battle, a Japanese grenade landed in the immediate vicinity, Kinser unhesitatingly threw himself on the deadly missile, absorbing the full charge of the shattering explosion in his own body and thereby protecting his men from serious injury and possible death. This won him the nation's highest military decoration.
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