The United States Marine Corps is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding this year and the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky is publicly recognizing Kentuckians who have made significant contributions throughout the year.

Legendary Kentucky Marines are being highlighted in the respective months of their births. For February they have chosen Middlesboro native and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Leonard Foster Mason.

Mason was born in Middlesboro, Kentucky, on Feb. 2, 1920. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1943 and was promoted to private first class in March 1943. Mason served during World War II and was sent to the Pacific war zone in October.

During the landing on Guam on July 22, 1944, two enemy machine guns opened fire on Mason’s platoon. Although mortally wounded, Mason cleared out the hostile position, acting on his own initiative. His heroic act in the face of almost certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish its mission. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1946, the destroyer USS Leonard F. Mason (DD-852) was named in his honor.

According to Mason’s Medal of Honor citation, he was recognized for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an automatic rifleman serving with the 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands.

Suddenly taken under fire by two enemy machine guns not more than 15 yards away while clearing out hostile positions holding up the advance of his platoon through a narrow gully, Pfc. Mason, alone and entirely on his own initiative, climbed out of the gully and moved parallel to it toward the rear of the enemy position. Although fired upon immediately by hostile riflemen from a higher position and wounded repeatedly in the arm and shoulder, Pfc. Mason grimly pressed forward and had just reached his objective when hit again by a burst of enemy machinegun fire, causing a critical wound to which he later succumbed. With valiant disregard for his own peril, he persevered, clearing out the hostile position, killing five Japanese, wounding another and then rejoining his platoon to report the results of his action before consenting to be evacuated.

His exceptionally heroic act in the face of almost certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish its mission and reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Mason and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

For 250 years, the United States Marine Corps has served honorably in every clime and place. Founded on November 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Marines have fought from the shores of Tripoli to the valleys of Afghanistan – always the most ready when the nation is least ready. Coming from all walks of life, Marines are forged by the fires of recruit training, turning everyday citizens into adaptive warfighters with problem-solving skills and a willingness to win against any adversary. No matter their ranks, Marines stay true to the uncompromising standards found in their core values of honor, courage, and commitment. Those who have worn the uniform continue to serve their nation and their Corps through their lived examples of Marine Corps values, leading the way in business and in their communities.

Marines have always answered the call of their nation – distinguishing themselves in battles at Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the Chosin Reservoir, Hue City, Fallujah, and Marjah. The same fighting spirit that led Marines then, thrives in our Marines today. On any given day, nearly 38,000 Marines are forward deployed around the globe, enabling the Corps to be first on the scene, first to help, first to contain a brewing crisis, and if required to do so, first to fight anywhere for as long as it takes. For 250 years, the United States Marine Corps has prided itself in exemplifying its motto of “Semper Fidelis” or “Always Faithful.”