U.S. Army Dental Corps Capt. Ben L. Salomon has been posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military award—the Congressional Medal of Honor—for his bravery and heroism on Saipan more than 50 years ago.
Salomon was here as a surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division during the Battle of Saipan when they were attacked by 3,000 to 5,000 enemy soldiers.
Salomon’s unit fought furiously, but the enemy soon penetrated the battalion’s perimeters and inflicted heavy casualties.
Minutes after the attack, about 30 wounded soldiers “walked, crawled, or were carried” into Salomon’s aid station—a small tent that was soon filled with wounded men.
It became increasingly difficult for Salomon to work. He saw an enemy soldier bayoneting one of the wounded soldiers lying near his tent.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Salomon told the wounded to return to the regimental aid station while he attempted to hold off the enemy.
Salomon killed several enemy soldiers that were trying to massacre the wounded Americans.
His body would later be found with 98 dead enemy soldiers piled in front of his position.
He succumbed to enemy fire. He was shot more than 70 times and 24 of those wounds were inflicted while he was alive, according to an examining doctor.
For his extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, President Bush honored Salomon posthumously during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House early this month.
Salomon was inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes in a separate ceremony.
Salomon is the first member of the Dental Corps to receive the award.
