Корея соғысындағы батырлық ерлігі үшін медаль алған теңізші

Major Henry Alfred Commiskey Sr. (January 10, 1927 – August 16, 1971) was a United States Marine who served during World War II at the Battle of Iwo Jima and in the Korean War in the Inchon landing. As a lieutenant, he was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor — the nation's highest decoration for valor — for extraordinary heroism in the Korean War, leading a charge up a hill and killing seven enemy soldiers in hand to hand combat.

Henry Commiskey was born on January 10, 1927, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He attended Sacred Heart School in Hattiesburg and worked as a brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad before joining the Marine Corps on January 12, 1944, two days after his 17th birthday. Commiskey served in the enlisted ranks more than five years, including 21 months overseas. He completed his recruit training in San Diego, California. He then served at Camp Pendleton; Hawaii; in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, and in Japan. Commiskey was of Irish descent.

During World War II, he was wounded in action during the Iwo Jima campaign — for which received the Letter of Commendation for "exhibiting high qualities of leadership and courage in the face of a stubborn and fanatical enemy". Commiskey also had been a drill instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. He was serving there, with the rank of staff sergeant, when he was accepted for officer training and commissioned a second lieutenant on September 10, 1949. He completed training in June 1950, and taught in the tactics section at the Marine Corps Schools Quantico, Virginia, before going to Korea with the 1st Marine Regiment, in August 1950.

The action for which First Lieutenant Commiskey received the Medal of Honor came a few days after the Inchon landing, in which he participated. The action occurred on September 20, 1950, near Yongdungpo, Korea, on the outskirts of Seoul. Although Major Commiskey, then a second lieutenant, escaped harm then, he was wounded a week later, and again on December 8, 1950, after which he was returned to the U. S. for hospitalization. Following hospitalization at the Naval Hospital in Pensacola, First Lieutenant Commiskey served at the Naval Air Rocket Test Station, Lake Denmark, Morris County, New Jersey. He was promoted to first lieutenant in June, 1951. On August 1, 1951, he was presented the nation's highest decoration for valor by President Harry S. Truman in a White House ceremony for his actions on September 20, 1950, near Yongdungpo, Korea, on the outskirts of Seoul.

In September 1951, he became a student naval aviator at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola. He received his wings at Corpus Christi in June 1953, and later completed jet training at El Toro, California. He was promoted to captain in July 1953. In April 1954, he returned to Korea as a pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 212, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

He returned to the United States in September 1954, and at his own request was assigned line duty. He joined the 1st Marine Division in December 1954, and served consecutively as a company commander, assistant S 3 of the 1st Service Regiment, and division reenlistment officer. From September 1956 until July 1959, he served as officer in charge of the Marine Corps Recruiting Station, 6th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District, Jackson, Mississippi. He was promoted to major in July 1959. Major Commiskey completed the Junior Course at the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in June 1960, then served as an instructor, student company commander and executive officer, the Basic School, Quantico. Prior to his retirement from active duty in August 1966, he served as a recruiter.

Eventually he moved to Meridian, Mississippi, where he lived in his final years. His father died in 1969 and Commiskey's health had deteriorated. His wife came home August 16, 1971, and found him dead at the age of 44. At the inquest, the county coroner ruled it was a self inflicted gunshot wound. He was cremated and his ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean by his son in honor of his service. A cenotaph was erected at Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

On June 5, 2004, a United States Postal Service facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was officially named the "Major Henry A. Commiskey Sr., Post Office Building".