The Medal of Honor hero known as a 'one-man Marine Corps' has died

A Medal of Honor recipient who was later called a "one-man Marine Corps" died on Wednesday at the age of 92, the Idaho Statesman reported. Art Jackson, who served with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, was one of 28,000 Marines who took part in the two-month long of Battle of Peleliu during World War II.

1,800 of them lost their lives, and 8,000 more were wounded. 

On Sept. 18, 1944, as Jackson's platoon was pinned down by heavy Japanese fire, he ran forward by himself toward a pillbox holding about 35 enemy soldiers, according to his Medal of Honor citation."By his cool decision and relentless fighting spirit during a critical situation, [Jackson] contributed essentially to the complete annihilation of the enemy in the southern sector of the island," the citation said. 

"Pouring his automatic fire into the opening of the fixed installation to trap the occupying troops, he hurled white phosphorus grenades and explosive charges brought up by a fellow marine, demolishing the pillbox and killing all of the enemy," the citation said.  But he didn't stop. He charged and took out 11 more Japanese pillboxes singlehandedly, eventually killing 50 enemy soldiers. He was called a "one-man Marine Corps" in a book that was later written about the battle. Jackson was wounded once during Peleiu and a second time during the Battle of Okinawa, for which he also received two Purple Hearts, the Statesman reported. 

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