Samuel Gross

On episode one hundred and thirty-five, the story of Samuel Gross is told. This episode is brought to you by Combat Flip Flops: flipping the view on how wars are won - business, not bullets. Be sure to visit our website for more information as the show goes on at: www.talesofhonorpodcast.com.

Samuel was born on the 9th of May, 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the last name of Marguiles. Not much is written about Samuel but we do know that he served in the Marine Corps from 1913 to 1915 and that it was his actions in Haiti that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

In company with members of the 5th, 13th, 23d Companies and the marine and sailor detachment from the USS Connecticut, Gross participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, November 17, 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Gross was the second man to pass through the breach in the face of constant fire from the Cacos and, thereafter, for a 10-minute period, engaged the enemy in desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.

During this battle, Samuel would also save the life of dual Medal of Honor recipient Smedley Butler. Samuel Gross died on the 13th of September, 1934 at the age of 43 and is buried in the Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia; Section I, lot 50.