In the Pacific theater of World War II, a young United States medic created an incredible legend. He was not afraid of life and death, and in the last moments of his death, he single-handedly killed 98 violent Japan soldiers. What exactly did this medic go through? How did he manage to fight his way out of a desperate situation? Why was his heroic deeds put on hold by the military for a long time?
1. Born in the ordinary and late bloomer
On September 1, 1898, a new life was born into an ordinary Jewish family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is Benjamin · Salomon, a hero who later created a shocking legend in World War II. An active child from an early age, Salomon joined the local Boy Scout organization and developed his stamina and courage through outdoor activities.
Raised by a good upbringing, Salomon aspires to become a doctor. After graduating from high school, he attended Marquette University and the University of Southern California, graduating from the University of Southern California's Herman · Ostlow School of Dentistry in 1937 and obtaining his dental license. However, fate seems to have prepared a more exciting chapter of life for this young man.
In 1940, the smoke of the Second World War began to drift over Europe. Faced with the situation of the Nazi barbaric invasion, Salomon, whose patriotism was high, resolutely enlisted in the army and devoted himself to defending his homeland. After systematic military training, Salomon not only mastered accurate firearm shooting skills, but also showed outstanding tactical skills, and was recognized by the army medical department, and was promoted to second lieutenant in August 1942.
2. Emergency rescue is not afraid of life and death
In June 1944, the Allies opened a second European theater in Normandy, while on the Pacific Front, the U.S. military launched the Battle of Saipan, codenamed "Grain Collector", aimed directly at Japan's absolute defense circle. Salomon, who was a medical officer of the Army's 27th Infantry Division, initially treated the wounded only in the field hospital in the rear. However, having seen the cruelty of the battlefield, he was determined to go to the front line himself, witness the cruelty of the war, and defend justice with his life.
Saipan was only about 200 kilometers from mainland Japan, making it the last barrier for Japanese defenses. In order to break this line of defense, the Allies did not hesitate to overwhelm the border with heavy troops. On June 15, the U.S. 105th Infantry Regiment began ground operations on the island. At the same time, Salomon, who served as the regimental medical officer, also came to the front. The medical tent of the 2nd Battalion, where he was located, was built less than 40 meters from the position.
In this area on the verge of the front line, Salomon saw the cruelty and bloodshed of war. Dressed in a white coat, he was always busy triaging, bandaging, and performing surgeries on the scarred soldiers. The tents were littered with blood stains and wails, and the bodies of the dead were often brought in. However, even in this environment, Salomon remained calm and calm, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to saving lives.
However, the brutality of the Japanese army soon made Salomon realize the essence of war. In the early morning of July 7, 1944, taking advantage of the darkness, the Japanese army launched the "Battle of Jade" or "Banzai Charge" that shocked the world. Thousands of soldiers armed with bundles of grenades, Molotov cocktails, submachine guns and long knives, shouted "Die in battle!" Kill all United States!" swooped down on the American positions and launched the final frantic charge.
The sudden attack broke the American defenses, and a large number of Japanese troops flooded the frontline positions like a monstrous wave. Soon after, Salomon's medical tent was also attacked. A furious Japanese soldier stormed the tent and stabbed a seriously wounded man to death with a bayonet. Seeing this, Salomon immediately dropped the bandage in his hand, picked up an M1 rifle, and killed the Japanese soldier on the spot.
Just as he turned to continue treating the wounded, two more Japanese soldiers rushed into the tent from outside. Salomon, who had no time to load, simply picked up the butt of his rifle and fought them hand-to-hand. After a fierce struggle, Salomon finally subdued the two men, and then ended their lives with bayonets and bullets.
3. A thrilling battle
After repulsing the three Japanese soldiers, Salomon thought victory was in sight. But soon, he realized that this was just the beginning. More Japanese troops began to pour into the medical tents, their bloodthirsty eyes and white-edged weapons in their hands terrifying. Salomon understands that this battle is destined to be a life-and-death struggle.
At this moment, a seriously wounded American soldier was carried into the tent, and he was dying and dying. Without saying a word, Salomon immediately performed emergency surgery on him. But at this juncture, several Japanese soldiers began to storm the tent, brandishing bayonets and shouting the slogan "Long live the Emperor" in an attempt to stab the unarmed Salomon.
Seeing that the time of death was approaching, Salomon decisively grabbed a scalpel and fought with these crazy Japanese soldiers. With his agility, he quickly evaded the attack, taking the opportunity to cut several Japanese soldiers to the ground. But soon, more Japanese troops joined the warband. Although Salomon is extraordinary, he is alone in the end, and he can't defend himself. Just as he was overwhelmed, a Japanese soldier suddenly stabbed him from behind, and a sharp bayonet plunged into his back.
Blood was pouring out, and Salomon clutched the wound on his back, crawling with difficulty to the corner and dragging out a machine gun full of bullets. This is his last chance and he has to give it his all. Shots rang out from inside the tent, and Salomon fired like a mad dog at the influx of Japanese troops, and the chamber of the gun quickly burned red. When the bullet was empty, he picked up the pistol again and continued to fire back.
In this way, the two sides engaged in a hearty hand-to-hand battle in the tent. Salomon was stabbed several times, but he still fought back. He used all his strength and all the weapons in his hands to fight the Japanese army. Eventually, the corpses of 98 Japanese soldiers were strewn all over the place, and the tent was filled with the smell of scorched guns and oozing blood. Salomon, on the other hand, was severely injured and covered in blood.
Just as he was struggling to defend his last breath, Allied reinforcements finally arrived. But the medical staff who arrived at the scene could only watch helplessly as the warrior gradually lost his vital signs. Before he died, an officer said to him: "You are so brave today, you have defeated the Japanese army in the whole battalion!" Unexpectedly, Salomon used his last strength and whispered, "I just did what I had to do..."
Fourth, the bizarre life is crowned
Salomon's thrilling battle in Saipan catapulted him to become a battlefield hero. However, the mystery of this extraordinary military doctor's life history has made people more curious about his legendary deeds.
In fact, Salomon has always been an enigmatic figure. Born into a modest Jewish family in Wisconsin, he aspired to be a doctor from an early age. However, in his young life experience, there is a very mysterious clan origin.
According to some old sources, Salomon is actually a descendant of the famous Rabihaya ·Salomon · Shapiro. Born in 1564, this rabbi was a well-known rabbi and commentator of the Jewish people in Poland during the reign of Roland III. His doctrinal wisdom was well known in Europe and was one of the most influential rabbis of his time.
However, from Shapiro's ancestors to Benjamin · Salomon, it may have taken centuries in between. The reason why this clan relationship has gone through several ups and downs and still has clues to this day is a very small coincidence.
After the end of World War II, a United States man named George ·Uzi stumbled upon an interesting material while sorting through Army records. This is a lawyer's letter written in 1925 describing the beginning and end of a family trust case. And the case revolves around a legacy of Shapirolabi back then.
According to the correspondence, Uzi noted that there was a reference to a man named "Ben Salomon", who had claimed an inheritance in this case as a member of the Shapiro clan. To Uzi's surprise, the name of "Ben" coincided with the timeline of the birth of Benjamin · Salomon whom he knew.
No one can be completely sure of what the facts are. But such a coincidental coincidence is enough to make people suspect that Salomon has a blood connection with this rabbi. And this mysterious life experience undoubtedly crowned this ordinary military doctor with an extraordinary aura.
Perhaps, it was some kind of fateful arrangement that allowed Salomon to show his heroic and fearless personality in World War II. It can be said that his indomitable character has a certain degree of internal connection with the wisdom and courage of his ancestors. This kind of clan shade invisibly gave him invincible power.
Fifth, the hero of regret is always a hero
Salomon defended the dignity of humanity with his life, and his heroic deeds deserve to be immortalized in the annals of history. However, due to some indescribable reasons, the legendary past of this World War II hero has been covered up and forgotten intentionally or unintentionally for a long time.
The news of Salomon's death was first sent back to China by his 27th Infantry Division. But in the months that followed, the details of his heroic martyrdom on Saipan were gradually watered down and minimized. Some media outlets simply reported that a military doctor had been killed in a firefight with Japanese troops, with no details.
It was not until 1951 that the military was ready to posthumously award Salomon a "Congressional Medal," the highest honor for a military man. But just then, a puzzling confidential document pops up, claiming that Salomon had worked as a casino dealer for a time in college and was "morally flawed."
The provenance of this document remains a mystery, and there is no evidence to support the "moral deficiencies" described in it. However, for various inexplicable reasons, Salomon was eventually disqualified from the Order of Congress. For this hero who saved the lives of hundreds of wounded and resisted the frenzied attack of the Japanese army alone, the United States government rewarded such a bad treatment.
It didn't stop there. In the decades that followed, Salomon's deeds were not remembered anywhere. Whether it is newspapers, magazines or military history, there is no account of this warrior on the battlefield. People seem to have consciously or unconsciously forgotten their heroic feats and allowed them to be lost in the smoke of war.
It wasn't until 2001 that an army medical researcher named Derek · Lang stumbled upon a long-lost file. The archives detail Salomon's thrilling battle at Saipan on July 7, 1944, and his final martyrdom. Lang immediately realized that this was a lost pearl, a heroic epic that had been lost for a long time.
Based on this dossier, Long set out to verify Salomon's heroic deeds. Eventually, through repeated field visits and witness testimony, he wrote a petition to formally apply to Congress for a posthumous "Congressional Medal" for Salomon. After review, on May 1, 2002, then-President George W. Bush issued an order officially awarding the highest honor to the late Benjamin · Salomon. In this way, this once forgotten hero finally returned to history after 57 years and was forever recorded in history.