NAVY CROSS
PURPLE HEART
ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL
(click on photo for large view)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Charles Oliver Jeanes (488463), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a rifleman of Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, on 6 January 1944. Undeterred by rain, dense jungle undergrowth and unfamiliar terrain, Private First Class Jeanes bravely advanced against the enemy during an attack on a heavily fortified roadblock flanked on one side by a swamp and on the other side by the sea, and prevented the Japanese from throwing mines at the tanks. When one of our tanks became bogged down in the mud and was menaced by mines thrown by the Japanese on the left flank, Private First Class Jeanes quickly moved to the side of the stranded vehicle and opened deadly rifle fire on the enemy, at the same time attempting to catch the mines before they could damage or destroy the tank. Although instantly killed by an exploding mine while engaged in this hazardous undertaking, Private First Class Jeanes, by his cool courage, spirit of self-sacrifice and unwavering devotion to duty, had contributed materially to the success of the attack, and his conduct throughout upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
SPOT AWARD, Commander, 7th Fleet: Serial 0940
Born: at McKinney, Texas
Home Town: Denton, Texas

Target Hill - Captured on the same day as the landings by assault battalions of the 7th Marines, who occupied this high ground. Counter attacked by Col. Kenshiro Katayama 141st Infantry on the night of January 2-3, 1944. They attacked without probing  the line first and were repulsed.

Suicide Creek - Located to the northwest of Target Hill. Japanese had strong defenses around this location. On 3 January, tanks first tried to cross but were unable. A bulldozer worked to create a lip allowing Sherman tanks to cross while fired on by the Japanese. The next morning the tanks crossed and proceeded to Aogiri Ridge. This is where PFC Jeanes was killed.

In the Navy Cross citation for Charles Jeans it says that the Japanese were throwing mines and he was trying to catch them before they hit the tank that was stuck in the mud. Here is the official bulletin from Military Intelligence Service on the new weapon. Throughout WWII the Intelligence Bulletin was designed to inform officers and enlisted men of the latest enemy tactics and weapons:
The Model 3 Conical Hand Mine actually is an antitank bomb or hand grenade. This grenade has been found in captured ammunition dumps in the Philippines, although there have been no reported attempts by the enemy to use it. Of Japanese naval manufacture, it comes in two sizes—one weighing 2 pounds, and the larger weighing 3 pounds. Like the Lunge Mine, the Conical Hand Mine is a cone shaped, hollow charge designed to direct the force of explosion against tank armor. The large end of the grenade cone is covered by a bowl-shaped wooden base. The whole body of the grenade is encased in a silk bag sewn to fit tightly around the explosive unit and the wooden base.
The fuze, which functions on impact, is located in the narrow end of the bomb, and is designed to detonate regardless of the angle at which the grenade strikes the target. To ensure detonation, the grenade must be thrown with force. To be safe from the effect of the explosion, the soldier who throws the grenade must be at least 35 feet from the target. The grenade reputedly can penetrate 3/4 inch of armor.
Approximately 20 inches of hemp-palm fibers resembling a grass skirt are attached to the narrow end of the grenade, and serve as a tail or stabilizer when the grenade is thrown. This permits the grenade to strike base-first on the target.
The Experimental Hand-thrown Mine is a spherical bomb 4.7 inches in diameter. It is composed of 3 pounds of explosive encased in a black aluminum shell. Like the Conical Hand Mine, it is reported as capable of penetrating 3/4 inch armor, and must be thrown from a distance of at least 30 feet from the target.
A carrying handle and a fuze cover are attached to the outside of the mine. During shipment the fuzes are packed separately, and must be inserted in the mine by unscrewing the fuze cover and inserting the fuze in the recess provided. The fuze is similar to that on the Conical Hand Mine, and is kept unarmed by a safety pin. Since the fuze will detonate the bomb upon impact with the target, the mine requires careful handling after the safety pin has been removed.