Born: February 16, 1927 Corporal, United States Army Service# RA19264350
A CO, 76TH ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION BN, X ARMY CORPS
Date of Enlistment: February 1947 Home or Place of Enlistment: Wallace, Idaho Killed in Action: January 16, 1951
ARMY MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION
By direction of the Secretary of the Army, the Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded to:
THE 76TH ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION BATTALION
CITATION: The 76th Engineer Construction Battalion is cited for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in support of combat operations in Korea during the period 29 July 1950 to 31 December 1951. Upon arriving in Korea shortly after the advent of hostilities, this battalion immediately set about to prepare the Pusan area to receive the vast quantities of troops and supplies destined for the fighting front. At the same time, its members began the construction of defense-line positions with the utmost speed. So effective were the efforts of this battalion and so proficient and organized were the techniques which they applied, that the Pusan perimeter was successfully completed and the port area equipped to receive the vitally needed men and materiel in a short span of time when the time element was critical. After the United Nations troops had broken out of the perimeter, this battalion was assigned the mission of reconstructing and maintaining roads and bridges along the main route of supply. Numerous railroad and highway bridges were constructed along this route and its arteries, despite shortages of men and materials, through the ingenious improvisation and full utilization of existing facilities by the members of this battalion. The exemplary manner in which these exacting missions were carried out played a significant part in the bringing of peace and freedom to Korea. The 76th Engineer Construction Battalion displayed such outstanding devotion to duty in the performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above all other units with similar skills. The technical skill, determination of purpose, and esprit de corps exhibited by the members of this battalion reflect great credit on themselves and the military service of the United States.
FIRST REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
By Order of the Secretary of the Army, the Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded by the President of the Republic of Korea to:
76TH ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION BATTALION
CITATION: This units distinguished itself – accomplishing the construction works of all the installations of the Korean Army Infantry School in a short period of time, indefatigably overcoming all the difficulties and hindrances, especially on the occasion of the removal of the above school to Kwangju in the South Cholla Province in October, 1951. Such self-sacrificing accomplishment of duty by the unit which has a brilliant history and honorable tradition, for the development of military training and education of the Korean Army, not only reflects credit on itself but also on the United Nations Command.
SECOND REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
By Order of the Secretary of the Army, the Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded by the President of the Republic of Korea to:
2D LOGISTICAL COMMAND, AND ATTACHED UNITS (INCLUDING 76TH ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION BATTALION)
CITATION: The 2d Logistical Command was activated on 19 September 1950 and given the mission of receiving and forwarding supplies to the Eighth United States Army in Korea and its attached units. This army included more than twice the number for which the 2d Logistical Command was organized to support, yet the mission was accomplished in spite of additional handicaps such as terrain, climate, and lack of proper facilities. Under the direction of the 2d Logistical Command, thousands of civilian refugees were provided with food and clothing after having been evacuated from the Hungnam area in North Korea. Medicine and medical equipment were supplied the sick and wounded while orphanages were established for the Korean children who were afflicted by war’s devastation. Additional support for the civilian population was made possible by the introduction of electric power barges in Pusan, Masan and Inchon, and by the installation of additional water mains in the overcrowded city of Pusan. The 7th Transportation Medium Port handled more than twice the amount of cargo which its larger counterpart, a Major Port, is designed to handle, and other subsidiaries of the 2d Logistical Command distributed cargo throughout Korea. The Chinese Communist spring offensive of 1951 was contained by the Eighth United States Army in Korea and its attached units from all nations because it had been adequately supplied by the 2d Logistical Command over bridges, highways and railroads which were still being built or repaired. By April 1952 normal rail service had been restored on the Korean National Railway in the rear areas even though it was still a combat zone, and passengers could again travel from Pusan to Seoul in 11 hours. Another monumental accomplishment was the operation of Prisoner-of-War camps in which 170,000 experienced a standard of living surpassing the requirements of the Rules of Warfare as adopted by the Geneva Convention, and with security and sanitation measures of such high caliber as to protect the adjacent civilian population. The efficiency with which the responsibilities of the 2d Logistical Command were discharged was due to the individual efforts of everyone concerned, and the resulting service, rendered to the nations of the free world, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army, the military service and the United Nations.
THIRD REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
By Order of the Secretary of the Army, the Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded by the President of the Republic of Korea to:
HEADQUARTERS, IX US CORPS, AND ATTACHED UNITS (INCLUDING, 76TH ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION BATTALION, COMPANY A)
CITATION: The Government of the Republic of Korea extends its deepest, most sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the magnificent manner in which Headquarters, IX US Corps and attached units accomplished their most difficult task in Korea. From the first commitment in battle of units of IX Corps on 23 September 1950 until Corps moved North on 2 November 1950 to participate in the United Nations November offensive, the entire Headquarters of IX US Corps and attached units served with marked accomplishment and distinction. The Headquarters assumed operational control of the 2d and 25th United States Infantry Divisions on 23 September 1950. At that time the Headquarters consisted of only a small fraction of the personnel and equipment authorized. Staff sections were between 10% and 25% of authorized strength; signal communications were almost nonexistent and there was only a minute fraction of the authorized Corps troops available. Courageous and determined officers and men found themselves confronted with tactical and logistical difficulties of the most monumental and exacting nature. Command and staff function was complicated by the extreme operational handicaps of inadequate personnel, equipment, and communications. In spite of these difficulties, Headquarters IX Corps planned and directed a brilliant offensive that carried the IX Corps across the Naktong and Nam Rivers and swept 175 miles in 6 days to the west coast of Korea. Opposing the IX Corps at this time were 6 of the total of 13 North Korean divisions which were opposing Eighth Army and in addition 2 brigades and 5 separate regiments. Following the stunning breakthrough and exploitation of the enemy’s positions, IX Corps carried out a systematic destruction of bypassed elements remaining in Southwestern Korea. During the period 23 September to 2 November 1950, IX Corps units inflicted 16,042 casualties on the enemy and captured 20,011 prisoners of war. The destruction of the enemy forces in Southwestern Korea was complete. During this entire period transportation, communications, evacuation, and logistical support presented problems requiring great skill and adroitness of planning in their solution. Under the most severe military tests and adverse conditions, the determined officers and soldiers of Headquarters IX Corps and attached units worked tenaciously and relentlessly to insure the defeat of the numerically superior and fanatically resisting Communist forces. The Republic of Korea holds in highest esteem the gallant, heroic and meritorious service of the officers and enlisted men of Headquarters IX US Corps and attached units. By their extraordinary actions on the battlefield, they have brought the highest credit on themselves and the forces of freedom throughout the world. The Government and the people of the Republic of Korea will remember with undying gratitude the truly meritorious services made to sustain their freedom and to thwart despotic aggression in other peace-loving nations.