The Key West Citizen

RELATES STORY OF HEROISM BY JOHN H. PRUITT
CORPORAL IN UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WAS KILLED WHILE SNIPING ENEMY IN FRANCE

(Florida News Service)

NEW ORLEANS, March 25.-

The heroic service of Corporal John H. Pruitt of the U. S. Marine Corps, who was killed by shell fire while sniping the enemy in France in 1918, was told here by Lieut. Edward A. Robbins, U. S. M. C.

Pruitt, of the 78th company, 6th Marine regiment, was advancing well ahead of his company. Single-handed he attacked and captured two machine guns and killed two Germans. He then took 40 prisoners.

According to Lieut. Robbins, Corporal Pruitt returned from the notable engagement without a scratch, but was killed soon afterward. The record of bravery and valorous service left behind is not often equalled, even in the Marine Corps, and few soldiers accomplished so much in a single-handed feat during the World War.

The Second Division occupied the territory. The Fourth Brigade of Marines was a part of that division. In October, an All-American drive was on with the enemy being driven from Blanc Mont Ridge, one of the key positions on the Western front. The division drove forward, and position after position was captured in the face of stout resistance.

At one of the few points where resistance was holding up the otherwise rapid advance, enemy machine guns were giving trouble, and this is where Corporal Pruitt came into exceptional action that resulted in the capture of the 40 prisoners from a dugout.

For his gallantry and devotion to duty an American destroyer was named for him. He was posthumously awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor, the French Croix de Guerre, and the Italian Cross of Military Valor.