James Madison

Birthplace: Springfield, MO

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: 148th Battalion

Theater of Operation: Pacific

Enlisted / Commissioned: Mar 16, 1943

Discharged: Dec 23, 1945

Highest Rank: Private

Honored By: Staff of Kansas Veterans' Home

Private Madison received the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action during the liberation of Manila. According to the citation accompanying the award Private Madison, while attacking a strong enemy pillbox, noticed a Browning Automatic rifleman belonging to his company was seriously wounded. Private Madison, an assistant Browning Automatic rifleman, saw his comrade fall and immediately left his sheltered position to aid the casualty. He lifted the man to his shoulder and exposed himself to intense hostile fire in carrying him to safety. Then, Private Madison once more ran across the lane of enemy fire to return to the area where his comrade had fallen, from this exposed position he took over operations of the BAR and fired into the pillbox, killing 10 of the enemy and completely neutralizing the Japanese strong point. His heroic actions saved the life of a wounded comrade and allowed his company to advance with a minimum loss of casualties.