John C. Sjogren
John Carleton Sjogren (August 19, 1916 – August 30, 1987) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II during the campaign to retake the Philippines in 1945. On May 23, 1945, near San Jose Hacienda, Negros Island, he was a Staff Sergeant in Company I, 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He led a squad against a steep ridge defended by enemy riflemen in spider holes and several pillboxes with automatic weapons. Under heavy fire, he rescued a wounded comrade, crawled forward, and, despite being wounded, killed 43 enemy soldiers and destroyed 9 pillboxes by throwing grenades through narrow openings and even pulling a light machine gun from a pillbox to silence it. His actions cleared the way for his company’s advance and earned him the Medal of Honor as the first of four soldiers from the 40th Division to receive it.
After World War II, Sjogren served in the Michigan National Guard from 1949 to 1953, rising to First Lieutenant and serving in the Korean War before leaving the guard. He was born in Rockford, Michigan, and is buried in Rockford Cemetery. The city honored him with Sjogren Day on September 14. He died of cancer in 1987.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:15 (CET).