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MacCRACKEN, Dr. Wm. (M.C.) (Navy Cross), CDR.
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Contact Info
Home Town Mount Vernon, NY. Home of record: Berkeley CA
Date of Passing Feb 29, 1960
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Dr. William Benjamin MacCracken, II
U. S. Navy (MC) WWII Second Marine Raider Battalion
also known as "Carlson's Raiders"
Dr. William B. MacCracken II of Berkeley, Calif., was recently awarded the Navy Cross by the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. --April 1943.
Award and Citation
Navy Cross Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant (MC) William B. MacCracken II, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage, and disregard of personal danger while serving as Senior Medical Officer of the landing forces of the SECOND Marine Raider Battalion, against Japanese-held Makin Island, on 17 and 18 August 1942. Lieutenant MacCracken personally carried many of the wounded to positions of greater safety, thereby enabling himself to administer early and effective aid, following the first enemy air attack. When his boat overturned, endangering the life of a seriously wounded enlisted man during the first attempt at evacuation, he risked his own life by holding the helpless man's head above the water and swimming ashore with him. After returning to his ship, Lieutenant MacCracken performed six major operations under most difficult circumstances and, as a result of his skillful and tireless efforts, he succeeded in bringing all of his cases back to base in excellent condition. By his courage, determination, and untiring devotion to duty, Lieutenant MacCracken saved many lives. His professional ability, courage, and inspiring devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Medical Corps and the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 313 (April 1943)
Action Date: August 17 & 18, 1942 Service: NAVY(USS Nautilus SS-168) Rank: Lieutenant Company: Medical Officer (Attached) Battalion: 2d Marine Raider Battalion
Other Comments:
Dr. William Benjamin MacCracken II 1907-1960
Born on September 2, 1907, in Mt. Vernon, New York, where Dr. MacCracken also completed his primary education, he was graduated from New York University in 1928 and from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1932. Following his internship at the Bellevue Hospital, he completed his residency at the New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital and was subsequently appointed as Annie C. Kane Fellow for three years at the same institution. Upon completion of his research fellowship, he established his practice in orthopaedics in Oakland, California.
The call of the sea was strong, and the war clouds were gathering, with the result that in September 1941, Dr. MacCracken enlisted in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant. He was retired from the Naval Service with the rank of Commander and subsequently became associated in the practice of orthopaedics with Dr. Francis Scott of Huntington, West Virginia, on February 1, 1946.
Naval Service:
The year 1942 and the dates August 17 and 18 are not too far removed from the memory of many of us, nor the submarine known as the "Nautilus", nor the Second Marine Raider Battalion also known as "Carlson's Raiders". Bill was one of them. As if this assignment in itself were insufficient to prove his courage and his selfless devotion to his country and to his fellow-men, Bill, on those two memorable days, so distinguished himself that he was decorated with the Navy Cross by Admiral Nimitz.
He was subsequently decorated a second time by Major-General A. A. Vandergrift of the United States Marine Corps for outstanding service during the invasion of Aola Bay (Guadalcanal) on November 5, 1942. He received other unit citations as well during the various operations of the Second Raider Marine Battalion throughout the South Pacific Area.
USS Nautilus (SS-168) earned the Presidential Unit Citation and 14 battle stars for her service during World War II.
Gung Ho! (full title: Gung Ho!: The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders) is a 1943 war film starring Randolph Scott. The story is based on the real-life World War II Makin Island raid led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson's 2nd Marine Raider Battalion.
Other Memories Born on September 2. 1907, in Mt. Vernon, New York, where Dr. MacCracken also completed his primary education, he was graduated from New York University in 1928 and from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1932. Following his internship at the Bellevue Hospital, he completed his residency at the New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital and was subsequently appointed as Annie C. Kane Fellow for three years at the same institution. Upon completion of his research fellowship, he established his practice in orthopaedics in Oakland, California.
