Leonard Dewitt

Leonard DeWitt served with Company I, 162nd Infantry Regiment. On 28 July 1943 a large unit of Japanese attacked his unit. DeWitt volunteered to take ammunition and supplies to soldiers in besieged foxholes. Discovering that those soldiers were wounded, he helped to evacuate them and took over holding that position. Using the rifle of one of the injured soldiers, he fired until he ran out of ammunition and all available grenades. Seeing a grenade coming, he threw himself on the ground, rolling into the ravine, landing between two Japanese soldiers. DeWitt crawled to ground level and threw his helmet into the ravine. The Japanese thought this might be a satchel charge and fled.