Harold Gonsalves
| Harold Gonsalves | |
|---|---|
 
PFC Harold Gonsalves, Medal of Honor recipient
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| Born |
January 28, 1926 Alameda, California |
| Died | April 15, 1945 (aged 19) Okinawa, Japan |
| Place of burial | Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 4th Battalion, 15th Marines |
| Battles/wars |
World War II *Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign *Battle of Guam *Battle of Okinawa |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal Combat Action Ribbon Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation (2) |
Harold Gonsalves (January 28, 1926 – April 15, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps private first class who was killed in action during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. He was awarded the nation's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for his heroic action on April 15, 1945.
Gonsalves was born in Alameda, California, on January 28, 1926. He attended school at Alameda and after two and one half years of high school, quit to take a job as a stock clerk with Montgomery Ward in Oakland. In high school, he had taken part in football, baseball, track, and swimming. He also sang tenor in the school glee club.
Gonsalves enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on May 27, 1943 and was called to active duty on June 17, 1943. He went through recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, and then, at his own request, was sent to the Marine Raiders at Camp Pendleton, California. After three weeks, he was transferred to the artillery at the same camp. He was classified as a cannoneer on 75 and 105 millimeter guns before he joined the 30th Replacement Battalion in the fall of 1943.
Pfc. Gonsalves left the United States on November 8, 1943 and at the end of that month was assigned to the 2nd Pack Howitzer Battalion, which was then in Hawaii. He was promoted to private first class in March 1944 and with his battalion became part of the 22nd Marine Regiment two months later.
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