Born: December 17, 1929 Sergeant First Class, United States Army
K CO, 3RD BATTALION, 5TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
Date of Enlistment: September 25, 1947 Home or Place of Enlistment: Clearwater County, Idaho Killed in Action: October 30, 1950 Location Or Battle Zone: Kusong, N. Korea
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:
THE 5TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
CITATION: The 5th Regimental Combat Team, during the defense of Taegu, 31 July to 1 September 1950, demonstrated the highest degree of initiative in developing the defenses of the Masan area and later advanced successfully against the enemy to Chonju and Sobuk-sun as part of Task Force Dean. From 16 September to 2 November 1950, the unit spearheaded the breakout of the Pusan perimeter, and followed this action with a punishing defeat of enemy forces in the Waegwan area between 25 November 1950 and 24 January 1951. Maintaining contact with the retreating enemy, the unit engaged in a spirited and effective pursuit from Kimchon north of Chonju. Preparatory to offensive action, the 5th Regimental Combat Team conducted a successful retrograde movement and rear-guard action under difficult circumstances. Having achieved a superlative degree of discipline and control in this operation, the Unit counterattacked and seized positions south of Kimsung, consolidating them during the period 25 January to 5 April 1951. The Unit then engaged in a holding and rear-guard action and subsequently launched a brilliant counterattack against the Chinese Communists. Between 9 July 1951 and 27 November 1951, the Unit performed superbly in securing line Nomad, then, from 16 January 1952 to 15 April 1953, line Minnesota, and in duty with Prisoners of War encamped on Koje-do. During the almost three years cited, the 5th Regimental Combat Team fought almost continually as unit superlatively organized with a high sense of responsibility and standards of performance. Worthy of special commendation is the exceptional versatility displayed by this Command in its ability to execute with brilliance and aplomb the highly difficult sequence of tactical operations in the face of a numerically superior and ruthless enemy. The valorous achievements of the 5th Regimental Combat Team reflect honor on its heroic members. The service rendered to the nations of the Free World is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and the United Nations.
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 5TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM)
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.