21AUG1942: Serving in a machine gun section on Guadalcanal, Pvt Al Schmid and his team were called forward when word spread of an expected Japanese attack. Schmid, suffering from a foot infection he didn't tell anyone about, moved into the defensive position in the late hours of 20AUG and waited. The Japanese began their attack shortly after midnight and as they began to cross the Tenaru (also known as Alligator Creek), Schimd's gunner opened fire. As the Japanese poured over their position, the primary gunner was killed and Schmid stepped into his place, firing for the next four hours. With his assistant gunner seriously wounded, Schimd loaded the machine gun himself and focused on keeping the weapon from overheating despite the constant need for its use. Eventually a Japanese soldier lobbed a grenade into their position. As it detonated, it wounded Schmid in the shoulder, arm, hand and face. Despite being blinded by the blast, Schmid continued to fire. Guided by his wounded assistant gunner, Schimd continued to keep the charging Japanese at bay. By morning, over 200 dead Japanese soldiers were found in front of his position. For his actions that night, Pvt Al Schmid would be awarded the Navy Cross.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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