b. 17/08/1878 Manhattan, New York. d. 14/05/1940 Brooklyn, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTIONS: 06/06/1918 near Chateau-Thierry, France.
Charles F Hoffman MOH
Ernest August Janson was born on August 17, 1878, in New York City. After nearly ten years of honorable service with the U.S. Army, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 14, 1910, at the Marine Barracks, Bremerton, Washington. He was appointed a corporal, March 14, 1911, and took part in the Nicaraguan Campaign, and was honorably discharged on June 13, 1914.
He re-enlisted on June 17, 1914 under the name Charles F Hoffman, and was appointed a sergeant on August 24, 1914. During this second enlistment, he served on the USS Nebraska from July 13, 1914, until January 30, 1915; on detached duty on the USS Montana from January 30, 1915, until February 6, 1915; on the USS Nebraska again from February 6, 1915, until October 22, 1916; and at Norfolk, Virginia, from October 22, 1916. until May 25, 1917.
Sergeant Janson (or Hoffman) sailed for France on the USS DeKalb on June 14, 1917, and disembarked at St. Nazaire, France, June 27, 1917. Appointed a gunnery sergeant, a temporary warrant for the duration of the war, on July 1, 1917, he served honorably with the 49th Company, 5th Regiment, in its various activities.
On June 6, 1918, at the Battle of Belleau Wood, he was severely wounded in action. For his conspicuous service on that date, Gunnery Sergeant Janson/Hoffman was awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor (one of only 19 double recipients). The French Médaille militaire, with the accompanying Croix de guerre with Palm, the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra, the Montenegrin Medal for Military Bravery and the Portuguese Medalha da Cruz de Guerra Third Class were also awarded to him for the same act of bravery.
In November 1918, he returned to the United States and was admitted to the Naval Hospital, New York, for treatment of the wounds received in action on June 6, 1918. At the expiration of his second enlistment, April 25, 1919, he was honorably discharged. He re-enlisted May 7, 1919, and served the full term of this enlistment as a recruiter at New York City.
Sergeant Major Janson was selected and served as the Marine Corps pallbearer for the burial of the Unknown Soldier on Armistice Day, 1921. He was honorably discharged on May 6, 1923. His fourth-enlistment took place May 7, 1923, and he remained on recruiting duty until July 20, 1926, when he was transferred to Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. On his return to duty at Quantico, he was reinstated to his wartime rank of gunnery sergeant and requested retirement the following month. He was advanced one grade to Sergeant Major on August 31, 1926, and placed on the retired list, September 30, 1926.
Sergeant Major Janson returned to New York and during his last years lived on Long Island. He died after a brief illness, May 14, 1930, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.
MOH CITATIONS:
Army Medal of Honor:
Immediately after the company to which he belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. GSgt. Hoffman was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative, and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops. Navy Medal of Honor: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Immediately after the company to which GSgt. Janson belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. GSgt. Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative, and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
Navy Medal of Honor:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Immediately after the company to which GSgt. Janson belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. GSgt. Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative, and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
BURIAL LOCATION: EVERGREENS CEMETERY, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
ORIENT HILL SECTION, LOT 148.
LOCATION OF MEDALS: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
