The monument has the laser etched images of the three Medal of Honor recipients and the following inscription:
CITY OF HOLYOKE, MA
MEDAL OF HONOR VETERANS
CBM JOHN S.
MACKENZIE
U.S. NAVY - WWI
JULY 7, 1886
DEC. 26, 1993
SGT JOSEPH E.
MULLER
U.S. ARMY - WWII
JUNE 23, 1908
MAY 16, 1945
1LT. RAYMOND O.
BEAUDOIN
U.S. ARMY - WWII
APRIL 6, 1945
Chief Boatswain's Mate John MacKenzie
John MacKenzie was born in Bridgeport CT on July 7, 1886. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from Massachusetts and was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I on December 17, 1917 for heroism at at sea aboard the U.S.S. Remlik.
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while serving on board the U.S.S. Remlik, on the morning of 17 December 1917, when the Remlik encountered a heavy gale. During this gale, there was a heavy sea running. The depth charge box on the taffrail aft, containing a Sperry depth charge, was washed overboard, the depth charge itself falling inboard and remaining on deck. MacKenzie, on his own initiative, went aft and sat down on the depth charge, as it was impracticable to carry it to safety until the ship was headed up into the sea. In acting as he did, MacKenzie exposed his life and prevented a serious accident to the ship and probable loss of the ship and the entire crew.
Sgt. Joseph E. Muller
Joseph E. Muller joined the Army from New York City in March 1942 and served in Company B, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division in Ishimmi on Okinawa. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 15, 1945.
Citation:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. When his platoon was stopped by deadly fire from a strongly defended ridge, he directed men to points where they could cover his attack. Then through the vicious machinegun and automatic fire, crawling forward alone, he suddenly jumped up, hurled his grenades, charged the enemy, and drove them into the open where his squad shot them down. Seeing enemy survivors about to man a machinegun, He fired his rifle at point-blank range, hurled himself upon them, and killed the remaining 4. Before dawn the next day, the enemy counterattacked fiercely to retake the position. Sgt. Muller crawled forward through the flying bullets and explosives, then leaping to his feet, hurling grenades and firing his rifle, he charged the Japs and routed them. As he moved into his foxhole shared with 2 other men, a lone enemy, who had been feigning death, threw a grenade. Quickly seeing the danger to his companions, Sgt. Muller threw himself over it and smothered the blast with his body. Heroically sacrificing his life to save his comrades, he upheld the highest traditions of the military service.
1st Lt. Raymond O. Beaudoin
Raymond Ovila Beaudoin was born on July 15, 1918 in Holyoke, MA. He entered the service from Holyoke and served in the U.S. Army in Company F of the 119th Infantry in the 30th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1945.
Citation:
He was leading the 2d Platoon of Company F over flat, open terrain to Hamelin, Germany, when the enemy went into action with machineguns and automatic weapons, laying down a devastating curtain of fire which pinned his unit to the ground. By rotating men in firing positions he made it possible for his entire platoon to dig in, defying all the while the murderous enemy fire to encourage his men and to distribute ammunition. He then dug in himself at the most advanced position, where he kept up a steady fire, killing 6 hostile soldiers, and directing his men in inflicting heavy casualties on the numerically superior opposing force. Despite these defensive measures, however, the position of the platoon became more precarious, for the enemy had brought up strong reinforcements and was preparing a counterattack. Three men, sent back at intervals to obtain ammunition and reinforcements, were killed by sniper fire. To relieve his command from the desperate situation, 1st Lt. Beaudoin decided to make a l-man attack on the most damaging enemy sniper nest 90 yards to the right flank, and thereby divert attention from the runner who would attempt to pierce the enemy's barrier of bullets and secure help. Crawling over completely exposed ground, he relentlessly advanced, undeterred by 8 rounds of bazooka fire which threw mud and stones over him or by rifle fire which ripped his uniform. Ten yards from the enemy position he stood up and charged. At point-blank range he shot and killed 2 occupants of the nest; a third, who tried to bayonet him, he overpowered and killed with the butt of his carbine; and the fourth adversary was cut down by the platoon's rifle fire as he attempted to flee. He continued his attack by running toward a dugout, but there he was struck and killed by a burst from a machinegun. By his intrepidity, great fighting skill, and supreme devotion to his responsibility for the well-being of his platoon, 1st Lt. Beaudoin single-handedly accomplished a mission that enabled a messenger to secure help which saved the stricken unit and made possible the decisive defeat of the German forces.