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Medal
of Honor Recipients
from Wisconsin during the Korean War |
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The following pages contain the names of all Korean War
Medal of Honor Recipients from Wisconsin that I have found. Please note that
some of these Recipients are not officially accredited to Wisconsin. I have
listed Recipients who were born in Wisconsin or lived in Wisconsin when they
entered service; the U.S. Military may use different criteria. |
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25-26 August
1950
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29 September
1950
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5 November
1950
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26 February
1951
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12 September
1951
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Rank
and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2D
Battalion, 1ST Marines, 1ST Marine Division (Rein.).
Place
and date: Seoul, Korea, 29 September 1950.
Entered
service at: Mindoro, Wisconsin.
Born:
24 January 1925, Mindoro, Wisconsin.
Citation:
“For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty while serving with Company E, in action against enemy
aggressor forces at Hill 132, in the early morning hours. Manning 1 of the
several listening posts covering approaches to the platoon area when the enemy
commenced the attack, Pfc. Christianson quickly sent another marine to alert
the rest of the platoon. Without orders, he remained in his position and, with
full knowledge that he would have slight chance of escape, fired relentlessly
at oncoming hostile troops attacking furiously with rifles, automatic weapons,
and incendiary grenades. Accounting for 7 enemy dead in the immediate vicinity
before his position was overrun and he himself fatally struck down, Pfc.
Christianson, by his superb courage, valiant fighting spirit, and devotion to
duty, was responsible for allowing the rest of the platoon time to man
positions, build up a stronger defense on that flank, and repel the attack with
41 of the enemy destroyed, many more wounded, and 3 taken prisoner. His
self-sacrificing actions in the face of overwhelming odds sustain and enhance
the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. Pfc. Christianson gallantly
gave his life for his country.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military
History.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 2 October 1942 at the age
of 17 and served with them at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. He was
discharged in December of 1945 but reenlisted three months later. He earned the
Bronze Star during the Inchon landing on 18 September 1950, eleven days before
he was killed in action.
Rank
and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 5TH
Infantry Regiment.
Place
and date: Near Sobuk San Mountain, Korea, 25 and 26
August 1950.
Entered
service at: Manawa, Wisconsin.
Born:
26 January 1919, Manawa, Wisconsin.
G.O.
No.: 60, 2 August 1951.
Citation:
“M/Sgt.
Handrich, Company C, distinguished himself by
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in
action. His company was engaged in repulsing an estimated 150 enemy who were
threatening to overrun its position. Near midnight on 25 August, a hostile
group over 100 strong attempted to infiltrate the company perimeter. M/Sgt. Handrich, despite the heavy enemy fire, voluntarily left
the comparative safety of the defensive area and moved to a forward position
where he could direct mortar and artillery fire upon the advancing enemy. He
remained at this post for 8 hours directing fire against the enemy who often
approached to within 50 feet of his position. Again, on the morning of 26
August, another strong hostile force made an attempt to overrun the company's
position. With complete disregard for his safety, M/Sgt. Handrich
rose to his feet and from this exposed position fired his rifle and directed
mortar and artillery fire on the attackers. At the peak of this action he
observed elements of his company preparing to withdraw. He perilously made his
way across fire-swept terrain to the defense area where, by example and
forceful leadership, he reorganized the men to continue the fight. During the
action M/Sgt. Handrich was severely wounded. Refusing
to take cover or be evacuated, he returned to his forward position and
continued to direct the company's fire. Later a determined enemy attack overran
M/Sgt. Handrich's position and he was mortally
wounded. When the position was retaken, over 70 enemy dead were counted in the
area he had so intrepidly defended. M/Sgt. Handrich's
sustained personal bravery, consummate courage, and gallant self-sacrifice
reflect untold glory upon himself and the heroic traditions of the military
service.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military
History.
Korea was MSG Handrich’s second
war. He entered the service 2 Sep. 1942 and later served with distinction as a
paratrooper in the joint U.S.-Canadian 1ST Special Service Force
during World War II. He saw combat in some of Europe’s fiercest battles in
Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany, and earned the Bronze Star and 3 Purple
Hearts. He was discharged in September 1945, but reenlisted in January 1949.
Rank
and organization: Sergeant (then Corporal.), U.S. Army, Company E, 17TH
Infantry Regiment, 7TH Infantry Division.
Place
and date: Near Maltari, Korea, 26 February 1951.
Entered
service at: Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
Born:
6 October 1929, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
G.O.
No.: 68, 2 August 1951.
Citation:
“Sgt.
Ingman, a member of Company E, distinguished himself
by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in
action against the enemy. The 2 leading squads of the assault platoon of his
company, while attacking a strongly fortified ridge held by the enemy, were
pinned down by withering fire and both squad leaders and several men were
wounded. Cpl. Ingman assumed command, reorganized and
combined the 2 squads, then moved from 1 position to another, designating
fields of fire and giving advice and encouragement to the men. Locating an enemy
machinegun position that was raking his men with devastating fire he charged it
alone, threw a grenade into the position, and killed the remaining crew with
rifle fire. Another enemy machinegun opened fire approximately 15 yards away
and inflicted additional casualties to the group and stopped the attack. When
Cpl. Ingman charged the second position he was hit by
grenade fragments and a hail of fire which seriously wounded him about the face
and neck and knocked him to the ground. With incredible courage and stamina, he
arose instantly and, using only his rifle, killed the entire guncrew before falling unconscious from his wounds. As a
result of the singular action by Cpl. Ingman the
defense of the enemy was broken, his squad secured its objective, and more than
100 hostile troops abandoned their weapons and fled in disorganized retreat.
Cpl. Ingman's indomitable courage, extraordinary
heroism, and superb leadership reflect the highest credit on himself
and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the infantry and the U.S.
Army.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military
History.
His Family moved to a farm near Kewauskum
when he was thirteen, they had moved to Tomahawk by the time he entered the
service on 1 November 1948.
Rank
and organization: Corporal, U S. Army, Company E, 19TH Infantry
Regiment, 24TH Infantry Division.
Place
and date: Near Chonghyon, Korea, 5 November 1950.
Entered
service at: Merrilan Wisconsin.
Born:
2 July 1924, Hatfield, Wisconsin.
G.O.
No.: 26, 25 April 1951.
Citation:
“Cpl.
Red Cloud, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. From
his position on the point of a ridge immediately in front of the company
command post he was the first to detect the approach of the Chinese Communist
forces and give the alarm as the enemy charged from a brush-covered area less
than 100 feet from him. Springing up he delivered devastating pointblank
automatic rifle fire into the advancing enemy. His accurate and intense fire
checked this assault and gained time for the company to consolidate its
defense. With utter fearlessness he maintained his firing position until severely
wounded by enemy fire. Refusing assistance he pulled himself to his feet and
wrapping his arm around a tree continued his deadly fire again, until he was
fatally wounded. This heroic act stopped the enemy from overrunning his
company's position and gained time for reorganization and evacuation of the
wounded. Cpl. Red Cloud's dauntless courage and gallant self-sacrifice reflects
the highest credit upon himself and upholds the
esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military
History.
He had enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1941,
falsifying his age to get in. He served in the Pacific with Carlson’s Raiders
during WWII. Discharged from the Marines late in 1945, he enlisted in the Army
on 1 October 1948.
Rank
and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B, 27TH
Infantry Regiment, 25TH Infantry Division.
Place
and date: Near Kumhwa, Korea, 12 September 1951.
Entered
service at: Wisconsin.
Birth:
20 August 1929, Wausau, Wisconsin.
G.O.
No.: 31, 21 March 1952.
Citation:
“2d
Lt. Sudut distinguished himself by conspicuous
gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His
platoon, attacking heavily fortified and strategically located hostile
emplacements, had been stopped by intense fire from a large bunker containing
several firing posts. Armed with submachinegun,
pistol, and grenades, 2d Lt. Sudut charged the
emplacement alone through vicious hostile fire, killing 3 of the occupants and
dispersing the remainder. Painfully wounded, he returned to reorganize his
platoon, refused evacuation and led his men in a renewed attack. The enemy had
returned to the bunker by means of connecting trenches from other emplacements
and the platoon was again halted by devastating fire. Accompanied by an
automatic-rifleman 2d Lt. Sudut again charged into
close-range fire to eliminate the position. When the rifleman was wounded, 2d
Lt. Sudut seized his weapon and continued alone,
killing 3 of the 4 remaining occupants. Though mortally wounded and his
ammunition exhausted, he jumped into the emplacement and killed the remaining
enemy soldier with his trench knife. His single-handed assaults so inspired his
comrades that they continued the attack and drove the enemy from the hill,
securing the objective. 2d Lt. Sudut's consummate
fighting spirit, outstanding leadership, and gallant self-sacrifice are in
keeping with the finest traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army.” Citation
from U.S. Army Center of
Military History.
He enlisted in the Army in March 1946 and served in the
Pacific area before he went to Korea.
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Wisconsin Medal Of Honor Page
revised 21 July 2011
since 24 August 1998