    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [January 20, 1998]
    [Pages 81-83]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the Congressional Medal of Honor to
    Major General James L. Day, USMC (Retired)
    January 20, 1998

        The President. Hillary and I are delighted to welcome all of you
    here today, including our Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Togo
    West; the National Security Adviser, Sandy
    Berger; Senator Robb and Congressman Evans; Deputy
    Secretary of Defense Hamre; Secretary
    Dalton; General Shelton and other members of the Joint Chiefs; General
    McCaffrey; Deputy Secretary Gober; Mr. Bucha, the president of
    the Medal of Honor Society, and General Foley and other recipients of the Medal of Honor who are here.
    To all the commanders of our veterans service organizations and proud
    members of the United States Marine Corps and former marines, to the
    friends and the large and wonderful family of General Day and Mrs.
    Day, we welcome you.

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        I thank Captain Pucciarelli for
    the fine invocation. He is not devoid of a sense of humor; before we
    came out here, he said he was going out to offer the exorcism.
    [Laughter]
        To those who lived through World War II and those who grew up in the
    years that followed, few memories inspire more awe and horror than the
    battle for Okinawa. In the greatest conflict the world has ever known,
    our forces fought no engagement more bitter or more bloody. In 82 days
    of fighting, America suffered more than 12,000 dead in this final epic
    battle, the most costly one during the entire Pacific war.
        At the very heart of this crucible was the fight for a hill called
    Sugar Loaf, the key to breaking the enemy's line across the south of the
    island, some of the grimmest combat our forces had ever seen. The
    marines on Sugar Loaf faced a hail of artillery, mortars, and grenades.
    They were raked by constant machinegun fire. Time and again, our men
    would claw their way uphill only to be repulsed by the enemy. Progress
    was measured by the yard.
        On May 14th, 1945, a 19-year-old corporal named Jim Day led several
    other marines to a shell crater on the slope of Sugar Loaf. What
    happened then surpasses our powers of imagination. On the first day in
    that isolated hole, Corporal Day and those with him fought off an
    advance by scores of enemy soldiers. That night he helped to repel three
    more assaults, as those with him fell dead or injured. Braving heavy
    fire, he escorted four wounded comrades, one by one, to safety. But he
    would not stay in safety. Instead, he returned to his position to
    continue the fight. As one of his fellow marines later reported, the
    corporal was everywhere. He would run from one spot to another trying to
    get more fire on the enemy.
        When the next day broke, Corporal Day kept on fighting, alone but
    for one wounded fellow marine. Through assault after assault and into
    his second night, he fought on. Burned by white phosphorus and wounded
    by shrapnel, he continued to fire his weapon and hold his ground. He
    hauled ammunition from a disabled vehicle back to his shellhole and
    fought and fought, one assault after another, one day, then the next.
        The battle on Sugar Loaf decimated two Marine regiments. But when
    Corporal Jim Day was finally relieved after 3 days of continuous
    fighting, virtually alone, he had stood his ground. And the enemy dead
    around his foxhole numbered more than 100.
        His heroism played a crucial part in America's victory at Sugar
    Loaf. And that success opened the way to the capture of Okinawa and the
    ultimate triumph of the forces of freedom in the Pacific.
        Now, for this extraordinary valor, we recognize James L. Day as one
    of the bravest of the brave. In words that echo from the peaks of
    American military history, he has distinguished himself, at the risk of
    his life, above and beyond the call of duty. As Commander in Chief, I am
    proud to award General Day our Nation's highest military honor, the
    Medal of Honor. This medal confirms what every marine in this room
    already knows: the name Jim Day belongs in the rolls of the Corps'
    greatest heroes, alongside Dan Daly, Smedley Butler, Joe Foss, and John
    Basilone.
        General, your achievements leave us all in awe. In particular, it is
    hard to know whether we should be conferring on you a Medal of Honor for
    bravery or for modesty.
        Let me tell you the story of how we happen to be here today, over 50
    years later. Although the battle for Okinawa was still raging when his
    battlefield commanders nominated young Corporal Day* for this
    decoration, so many died in the fighting and so many reports were lost
    in the battle, the paperwork simply never went forward in 1945. General
    Day later said that awards weren't on their minds in those days. As he
    put it, ``We just had a job to do, and we wanted to get the job done.''
    Years later, when veterans of Sugar Loaf wanted to restart the process,
    Jim Day forbade them from doing so. Then a general, he felt that seeking
    such an honor would set a bad example for those he commanded.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        General Day, everyone in our Nation, in the military and outside it,
    can learn a lot from your selfless conduct both under fire and
    throughout your life. In your modest service, as well as your heroism,
    you are a shining example to all Americans.
        Today, as we applaud one extraordinary performance on Sugar Loaf, we
    also celebrate one of the most remarkable military careers in our
    Nation's history. Just days after the action we recall now, Jim Day
    distinguished himself again on Okinawa and received the Bronze Star for

    [[Page 83]]

    his heroism. During a career that spanned more than four decades, he
    rose from enlisted man through the ranks to major general, becoming one
    of the greatest mustangs the Marine Corps ever produced. In Korea, his
    valor in combat was recognized with two Silver Stars. In Vietnam, his
    leadership and bravery under fire earned him a third Silver Star. Just
    as astonishing, for his service in three wars, Jim Day received six
    Purple Hearts.
        General, I'm told that your ability to absorb enemy fire led to a
    lively debate among those who served with you as to whether it was safer
    to stand near you or far away. [Laughter]
        Amid all this heroism, General Day and his wife have also raised a
    fine family. He has given not only a lifetime of devotion to the Corps,
    he and Sally have brought up two more generations
    of marines: his son, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Day, and grandson, Lance Corporal Joshua Eustice, both of whom are here today, and we welcome you.
        General, we thank you for a lifetime lived to the highest standards
    of patriotism, dedication, and bravery. For all marines and, indeed, for
    all your fellow Americans, you are the embodiment of the motto Semper
    Fidelis. You have been unerringly faithful to those who fought alongside
    you, to the Corps, and to the United States. We are profoundly fortunate
    to count you among our heroes. On behalf of all Americans, I thank you
    for a lifetime of service without parallel and for all you have done to
    preserve the freedom that is our most sacred gift. Thank you, sir.
        Lieutenant Commander Huey, read the
    citation.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:29 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. Henry H. Shelton, Chairman of
    the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Paul Bucha, president, Congressional Medal of
    Honor Society; Maj. Gen. Robert F. Foley, USA, Commander, U.S. Army
    Military District of Washington; Capt. George W. Pucciarelli, USN,
    Chaplain, U.S. Marine Corps; and Lt. Comdr. Wesley Huey, USN, Naval Aide
    to the President.